Man who had to ‘learn to walk again’ to run London marathon just 12 months after near fatal accident 

A twenty-two-year-old man is set to run the London Marathon, just one year after a skiing accident broke nearly every bone in his face and left him unable to walk.  

In February 2023, Joshua Ziv, from London, was on a family holiday in Italy when a life changing accident left him unrecognisable. 

Josh said: “It was a lapse in concentration, and I took a turn too quickly, went through a barricade and went straight off a steep drop into a ravine.  

“I remember it all really well, I don’t think I was ever unconscious. I remember falling, being in the air and then bang hitting the floor.  

“I broke a lot of ribs, broke my pelvis in three places, punctured my lung, dislocated my shoulder and broke virtually every bone in my face.” 

Josh was immediately taken to hospital where he underwent ten hours of emergency surgery that involved the removal of crushed bones from his skull that were then replaced with temporary titanium plates to hold his skull together.  

After the surgery, Josh woke up with a shaved head, a large scar that extended from ear to ear and a face he could no longer recognise.  

Josh explained: “The doctors were amazing, and they rightfully prioritised my survival and not my appearance.  

“I remember seeing myself in the mirror for the first time, and I still can’t quite describe how it felt.  

“It was almost like an outer body experience; I didn’t feel like I was looking at myself.” 

Josh never asked how many bones he had broken exactly, he said: “I don’t think it would be worth trying to count, it was an extensive amount – countless bones were broken. 

“After the accident I basically had to learn how to walk again, I started out on a Zimmer frame to then going on crutches, to then finally being able to walk on my own.” 

Nearly two months after the accident, in April 2023, Josh was able to return home, however he was not emotionally ready to see his extended family or even his closest friends.  

Josh said: “At the beginning I was scared to see anyone.  

“It took a few weeks for me to start feeling comfortable enough to see a lot of my family again but with my friends I think it must have been late into summer, like late August before I felt confident enough to see them again.” 

Despite the significant physical trauma his body had been through, Josh said the mental impact was much more significant.  

He explained: “Before the accident I loved being out with friends, and especially meeting new people, I was, for better or worse, always the loudest voice in the room, but with my ‘new’ face, I no longer wanted to be seen.  

“If I had to leave the house, I would wear a hoodie to cover the scar and my face, I stopped looking at people when they would talk to me – I felt embarrassed about looking visibly different.”  

Three months after the accident and Josh had undergone another major facial reconstruction surgery.  

After the second major procedure, Josh started to finally feel like himself again.  

“They did such an amazing job fixing me up. I feel confident again, I now embrace the little lumps, bumps and scars that are left over,” he said.  

Now, only 12 months after the accident, Josh has signed up to run in the London Marathon on April 21, 2024.  

Josh is set to run for a charity called Changing Faces, who support people living with visible differences.  

He said: “I just thought what an amazing full circle moment for me, you know a year on from learning how to walk again and breaking every bone in my face, to being able to say I ran a marathon would be amazing.  

“I remember the first time I was strong enough to run a mile after the accident. It was on a treadmill in September 2023. To call it ‘running’ was a stretch. Nonetheless, it was the proudest workout of my life so far. 

“Now I’m at a stage of saying I’m going to run a marathon, which is pretty nuts to say – I just hope my pelvis holds up in the race.” 

Josh’s JustGiving fundraiser has already raised over £20,000 for the charity.  

He said: “Changing faces is just such an amazing charity for me to raise money for because I really understand the need for people to have the support and help that they offer.  

“I know what it’s like to feel like everyone is looking at you. I know what its like to look at yourself and feel scared, embarrassed and at some points a bit confused. 

“This is why I want to raise as much money as possible for Changing Faces – I really want to make a tangible difference.” 

Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving said: “Josh is an incredibly resilient young man, and his fundraising challenge is a testament to that.  

“Less than 1% of the population will ever complete a marathon, which makes Josh’s desire to do so just 12 months on from his accident so inspiring.    

“From the JustGiving team, we wish Josh the very best of luck with the London Marathon and will be cheering him on every step of the way.” 

To donate to Josh’s JustGiving page, click here.  

NOTES TO EDITOR

For further information contact  press@justgiving.com

About JustGiving
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