Heroic Cumbria Crack photographer Ben Challis made sure he got the shot – despite a football hurtling towards his head in the middle of a football match.
Ben, a well respected sports photographer, was covering the Workington Reds friendly against Blackburn Rovers – and you can see his photos here – when disaster struck, causing the game to be paused by the referee.
A kick by Blackburn’s Dan Pike missed its intended target and made for Ben instead. The ball smashed his lens hood and his camera ricocheted into his eye socket.
He said: “My first sports injury for probably something like 45 years. My first ever head injury assessment. Thank you so much to the two Workington Reds and Blackburn Rovers’ physios who came straight over. Real professionals, and utter stars.
“And to Reds’ first aid who then made sure I was okay. The ref stopped the game! And Blackburn Rovers’ Dan Pike – your apology was much appreciated. And the shouts of ‘don’t tell him your name Dan’ made even more amusing by Dan’s surname. Unbelievably, the game was live on BBC Radio Cumbria at the time!”
Like all of our Cumbria Crack’s photographers, Ben is a trouper – and we salute you for getting the photo….Hope your head feels better soon!
