Harry Redknapp's Life-Altering Car Crash in 1990
Former I'm A Celebrity contestant and football manager Harry Redknapp has revealed the harrowing details of a car crash that permanently robbed him of his sense of smell. The incident occurred in 1990 while he was travelling to Italy to watch the FIFA World Cup, resulting in the deaths of four other individuals.
The Fatal Collision on the Way to the World Cup
Redknapp was journeying with a group from the sports community when the minibus he was in collided with a car carrying three Italian soldiers. In a tragic twist of fate, Redknapp typically occupied a specific seat in the vehicle, but on that day, AFC Bournemouth managing director Brian Tiler had taken it. The impact proved fatal for Tiler and all three soldiers, while Redknapp survived with severe injuries.
He suffered a fractured skull, a broken nose, cracked ribs, and was doused in petrol during the accident. Medical staff initially believed he was dead upon arrival at the hospital, but he eventually made a full physical recovery, albeit with the permanent loss of his olfactory senses.
How the Aftermath Affected His I'm A Celebrity Experience
Redknapp's lack of smell became a notable advantage during his time on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! He willingly took on the unpleasant "dunny duty" – cleaning the camp's toilet – because the task did not bother him without a sense of smell. In a conversation with fellow contestant John Barrowman, Redknapp stated, "It's not a problem for me, I'll go and do it. I've got no sense of smell, I can't smell anything."
Barrowman later commented to the Bush Telegraph, "Harry doesn't have any sense of smell, so Harry is the perfect one to do the dunny – just don't look in!" This unique circumstance turned a typically dreaded chore into what Redknapp described as "the easiest job in the world" for him.
Another Terrifying Incident Involving His Wife
In a separate alarming episode, Redknapp recounted accidentally running over his wife, Sandra, with a car. He explained that he thought she had crossed the road after getting out of the vehicle, but when he pulled forward, she fell into the road. The situation was compounded by the fact that their granddaughter witnessed the entire event from a nearby bus.
Sandra required surgery on her ankle but survived the ordeal. Redknapp recalled on Good Morning Britain, "I thought I had lost her. I thought I had done her foot. I thought a car had hit her. I heard her scream. I didn't realise it was me." This incident further highlighted the former football manager's tumultuous experiences with vehicular accidents beyond the 1990 crash that forever altered his sensory perception.
