Paralympic rowing champion David Smith reveals he has months to live
London 2012 rowing gold medallist David Smith has revealed he has been given just months to live after being moved into palliative care.
The 47-year-old Scot used voice-activated technology to share the devastating update from his hospital bed.
Smith, who won gold in the mixed coxed four at the home Games, is now paralysed following a long battle with cancer.
He confirmed that a spinal tumour has spread to his brain, leading to the terminal prognosis.
‘My time is coming to an end’
The Dunfermline-born athlete told the Strathspey Herald that he fears he may never return to his home in Aviemore.
“On Thursday, I was moved to palliative care… and told that I have four months to live.”
Despite the severity of his condition, the former rower expressed a determination to keep going for as long as possible.
“I’m going to fight with every will in my body, but I’m also aware my time on this planet is coming to an end.”
Smith communicated the news using an electronic decoder, acknowledging that his message might contain errors as he battles the illness.
A career of resilience
The multi-sport athlete has faced a series of severe health challenges throughout his distinguished sporting career.
Born with a club foot, he underwent numerous procedures in his youth to reset his bones before finding success in elite sport.
In 2010, Smith underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his spinal cord which caused temporary paralysis.
Remarkably, he recovered to win Olympic glory just two years later at London 2012.
He was later forced to withdraw from the Rio 2016 Paralympics, where he planned to compete as a cyclist, due to the recurrence of a tumour.
Recent health battles
In 2018, the Paralympic hero was warned that further surgery on his spine could leave him paralysed from the neck down.
Last year, he underwent emergency brain surgery after doctors discovered three tumours.
He had initially attributed symptoms including blurred vision and headaches to watching television while recovering from a broken rib.
Doctors subsequently confirmed the presence of benign tumours and fluid accumulation on his brain.
Smith is currently receiving radiotherapy to treat the remaining growths while in palliative care.