Brain bleed survivor conquers Spinnaker Tower abseil with one arm
An incredible comeback story from Janice Dugan, who defied all odds to complete an abseil down Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower — despite only having use of one arm.
Given just 20% chance to live
Back in 2012, 48-year-old Janice suffered a devastating intracerebral haemorrhage and was placed in an induced coma, with doctors warning she had just a 20 per cent chance of survival. The mum-of-three spent three critical months fighting for her life at Queen Alexandra Hospital (QA).
From coma to conquering heights
With support from brain injury charity 1 Headway, Janice embarked on a long road to recovery. On Sunday, July 31, she smashed her personal goal by abseiling solo down the 170-metre Spinnaker Tower — something she never imagined possible given her mobility challenges.
“I used to be afraid of heights, but now I don’t fear anything. Life is too short,” Janice said. “I didn’t think I’d manage abseiling alone since I only have one working arm. It took me longer than most, but I absolutely loved it.”
The emotional moment brought Janice and her supporters to tears. “They were tears of joy,” she added.
Family proud of unstoppable spirit
Janice’s husband Bill praised her grit, saying: “I was told to prepare for the worst back then. She didn’t even recognise me after waking up. I never imagined she’d be abseiling today — she’s a true inspiration.”
So far, Janice has raised around £700 for 1 Headway. To support her fundraising efforts, visit her JustGiving page.
