As a consequence, the 25 year old sustained serious injuries after taking on the attackers. He was taken to King’s where he had emergency life-saving surgery. He had three hours of emergency surgery to remove his spleen and was in a coma for three days after sustaining multiple stab wounds. Charlie had five further operations to save his lungs and stomach and spent 70 days in the Critical Care Unit.
Once on the road the recovery, Charlie knew he wanted to do something to thank the team at King’s for saving his life.
Before being injured, Charlie ran the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon and thought that taking on the 2018 challenge for King’s College Hospital Charity was the perfect way to help his recovery while also raising money for the hospital. Charlie wanted his fundraising to go towards the new Critical Care Centre at the Denmark Hill site to help other patients like him.
Eight months after leaving hospital, Charlie, now a police training officer, completed the hottest London Marathon on record in five hours and 42 minutes, and smashed his fundraising target, raising over £12,000.
Charlie has said that the focus of training and completing the 2018 marathon had given him strength and helped him in his recovery.
As well as receiving the Pride of Britain Award in October 2017, 12 months later Charlie received the George Medal for bravery from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his help saving people during the terror attack.