Actor Jason Riddington is ready to tell the world about how he nearly lost his life, not once but twice, and how he thinks that T’ai Chi is a big part of the reason he is still here with us today. The launch of his new book Life, Death, T’ai Chi and Me explains it all in a most personal memoir.
Riddington, an accomplished British actor is known for his performances in television and film. You may have seen him in Coronation Street,
Eastenders or Luther, among many others.
In the summer of 2021, Jason’s life changed as he suffered an unexpected brain hemorrhage while at home. His wife, personal trainer, and Team GB Showjumper, Faye Riddington-Smith performed CPR and fortunately saved his life.
Following an induced coma, further complications arose from Meningitis, seizures, a retinal aneurysm, hydrocephalus and a shunt operation. On 29th June and 10th June 2021, respectively, Jason experienced two, identical, life-changing near-death experiences and nearly lost his life again. To come back from two experiences of almost certain death, he not only wishes to credit his doctors and nurses, but also the art of T’ai Chi Qigong – something of which he has practised for the past 30 years.
Jason began practising T’ai Chi on the ward of the High Care Unit, under the watching eyes of the nursing staff to begin his physical and neurological recovery. On how T’ai Chi aided his recovery while in hospital, Jason says: “When I was bed-ridden in intensive care, I did Qigong as a meditation in my mind. As soon as I was able, I did Qigong, with my drip and tubes next to me, in intensive care. I was deaf, blind in one eye with Terson Syndrome, paralyzed in my right foot, and in a pretty bad state!”
Following these series of very unfortunate events and encouraged by his friend Brian Blessed, Jason wrote his debut book Life, Death, T’ai Chi and Me as a crucial form of therapy for not only himself, but to help those who might be struggling with or are fascinated by physical, spiritual or mental health issues.
The book is the inspirational true story of the human struggle to defy the odds and survive the most profound physical and mental trauma.
Life, Death, T’ai Chi and Me – My Brain Injury Journey is out now via Waterstones and Amazon online.
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