A champion Scottish skier is “lucky to be alive” after plunging 30ft down a mountain range in Austria.
Kieran Troup, from Aberdeen, tore ligaments in his legs after the horror fall while skiing with friends on the Bluebird Pow trail in Kappl, on January 12.
The terrifying accident was caught on camera – with the 24-year-old seen crashing down the snowy peaks.
Kieran told the Record he heard “popping” noises as he landed on his legs during the incident.
He said: “I landed slightly off and my knee just completely tore.
“I twisted and can remember looking up at the sky and having this crazy vision of my ligaments tearing. It tore, tore and tore, and then all I heard was a pop.
“I was screaming in agony and I’m lucky to be alive.”
Kieran, who is also the UK’s top freeride skier, has survived multiple injuries in his career, including breaking both of his legs at the same time, but admits this was the “scariest” accident yet.
The skier, who previously represented Scotland in speed skiing before switching to freeriding, is scheduled for surgery in Glasgow on February 12, but faces a massive financial challenge to get back on his feet.
He said: “I went to the emergency room in Austria but my insurance wouldn’t cover it because it’s not a life-or-death situation.
“The surgery would cost too much out here, so I need to go home and it’s going to cost around £8,000 to £10,000 in the UK because I have heard other stories of people waiting two to three years on the NHS for the surgery I need. As a professional skier, I can’t afford to wait that long.”
Kieran is hoping to be treated by Professor Gordon Mackay at the Mackay Clinic in Stirling after the world-renowned surgeon developed an internal brace system for ligament tears.
To help cover the costs, a GoFundMe page has been set up.
He said: “The recovery process will be pretty awful. For three months, you can’t walk at all. After that, you can start building up strength again. So it’s going to take around eight to ten months before I can go skiing again.”
Despite the setback, he remains positive, promising fans he’ll keep posting updates his new YouTube channel and will soon be hitting the slopes again.
Those wishing to support Kieran’s recovery can donate through his GoFundMe page.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.