Olympic long jumper and former Strictly Come Dancing star Greg Rutherford has shared graphic images of his five-year-old daughter Daphne's broken arm after a fall at a park. The 39-year-old athlete posted the photos on Instagram on Sunday evening, showing the young girl's arm bent out of place before being placed in a cast and sling.
Daughter's Recent Illnesses
Just a day earlier, Rutherford had revealed that Daphne had been suffering from chicken pox for a month, describing her as a 'little trooper' after she also developed impetigo and conjunctivitis. He called it a 'really worrying time' and expressed relief when she was finally able to return to school.
However, that relief was short-lived. While Rutherford and his partner Susie Verrill were in Southampton, they received a phone call that Daphne had been in an accident at a park and appeared to have broken her arm.
Hospital Visit and Recovery
In his Instagram post, Rutherford wrote: 'Poor Daph 😭 it's only been a minute since she went back to school after chicken pox (and only a day since me posting about it) and while me and @susiejverrill were in Southampton, we had a call to say she'd had an accident at a park and it looked like she'd broken her arm. And indeed she has 😳 broken radius and ulnar.'
He thanked staff at Milton Keynes Hospital for their care, adding: 'She was so scared but they really put her at ease and she was made up with her matching broken arm-ed teddy.' Rutherford confirmed that Daphne is now back home and 'working out she can still do loads of stuff with just one arm.'
Photos showed Daphne smiling in her pyjamas next to her father, holding a large fluffy dog, while her brother enjoyed drawing on her bandages.
Support from Friends
Former Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova commented: 'Sending lots of love❤️', while Janette Manrara added: 'Poor little thing. Hopefully she heals smoothly and quickly 🤍'.
Family's Eventful 2026
2026 has been a dramatic year for the Rutherford family. In April, their seven-year-old son Rex was rushed to hospital with appendicitis. Rutherford posted at the time: 'We've had an eventful few days. Finished up with TCA Camps on Thursday to Rex going straight in to hospital with appendicitis that night. He was so brave start to finish and now back at home requesting all the food. Think those hours he was nil by mouth has scarred him.'
This was not Rex's first A&E visit; he was hospitalised in 2024 with a head injury. Rutherford joked that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, saying on Instagram: 'It would seem we have created my exact replica in Rexy. Another head injury to leave another scar. He's got a few more to go to match me but he's doing his best to catch.'
Rutherford's Own Injuries
Rutherford, who also has an 11-year-old son Milo, is no stranger to injuries. In 2018, he retired from long jumping due to a persistent ankle injury, ending his 13-year career. He told The Guardian: 'Whenever I try to sprint or jump, I have to take three days off because I am limping so much. In the end, it wears you down. I still feel I am fast. I still feel as if I am super strong.'
In 2024, Rutherford was forced to miss the Dancing On Ice final after slicing open his stomach. He described the ordeal as 'horribly painful' and said he had 'effectively [given himself] a C-section' when he tore his abdominal muscles after sliding through the legs of professional skaters Brendyn Hatfield and Colin Grafton. The final was won by Ryan Thomas and Amani Fancy, with Ryan dedicating his trophy to Rutherford, who had been a hot favourite before his withdrawal.
