The 31-year-old Welsh athlete suffered a fractured skull and neck and has multiple brain bleeds, according to his partner Naomi Heffernan. On Instagram, she said: “She is in a coma and on life support. “Ben needs your positive thoughts and prayers at this time. Those who know Ben know how strong he is mentally and physically, he is a fighter and he will pull through. “Please pray for him and send all the positive energy and thoughts you can muster.” Image: Naomi Heffernan posted on her Instagram story Gregory has represented Great Britain and competed for Wales at three Commonwealth Games – in Delhi in 2010, Glasgow in 2014 and the Gold Coast four years ago. Since then he has become a personal trainer and coach. Other British track and field stars sent their well wishes, with former world hurdle champion Dai Greene describing Gregory as “one of the nicest and most positive people I’ve had the pleasure of being around on the track”. “Keep fighting Ben,” he added in a tweet. Retired heptathlete Kelly Soderton, a three-time Olympic bronze medalist, said Gregory was “the energy we all love on the team.” “You got that Ben,” she wrote. Stephen Morris, a former Paralympic 1500m runner, shared Greene’s sentiments. “I hope he makes it,” he said of Gregory on Twitter. “One of the nicest guys I’ve met during my athletic days.” “Pray for a full recovery” Welsh Athletics issued a statement, hailing Gregory as the “greatest decathlete of all time”. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Ben’s friends and family at this time,” it said. “Ben’s achievements as an athlete speak for themselves: Wales’ greatest decathlete – three Commonwealth Games, Welsh record holder and representing Wales and Great Britain many times. “The outpouring of support on social media is a testament to his popularity as a person and as an athlete. “Everyone who has had the privilege of training or competing alongside Ben will speak of his incredible love of life, kindness, support and dedication. “We will all continue to pray for a full recovery for Ben.” Image: Grigoris in action at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Gregory was also reportedly involved in a bicycle accident in October 2020, but escaped serious injury. That incident saw him crash into a car in London, according to WalesOnline.
