Chester Williams was in hospital having suffered a traumatic brain injury in a riding fall at the same his son Archie’s heart stopped when his wife Fliss was due to give birth
Fledgling trainer Chester Williams is to run in the London Marathon to raise awareness of baby loss after enduring his ‘worst nightmare’. The 28-year-old, the son of trainer Nick and Jane Williams and brother of former jockey Lizzie Kelly, began his own training career this season in Devon.
He was riding as a jump jockey until 2022 when that career was ended having suffered a head injury in a fall while schooling and spent five weeks in hospital, initially in a coma. At the same time his wife Fliss was pregnant with their first child, Archie, who tragically did not survive.
Williams explained on his fund raising page that the experience had led him to decide to take part in the London Marathon in aid of Sands , a charity which supported him and other bereaved families.
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“On 11th October 2022, my wife Fliss who was 3 days overdue at the time, was rushed to hospital having suffered a placental abruption,” he said. “Once in the labour ward, she received the worse news, that Archie’s heart had stopped beating and he had died.
“I say Fliss and not we because I was not there. Losing your baby is the worst thing imaginable but to make matters more tragically complicated, at the time of Archie’s death I was in hospital having suffered a traumatic brain injury.
“On September 13th, I had a fall whilst riding (I was a professional jockey) which resulted in me being air lifted to Plymouth hospital and spending two weeks in intensive care. I was then moved to Barnstaple Hospital earlier than planned, so I could be present for Archie’s birth.
“Every day that I was in hospital Fliss, in the late stages of her pregnancy, and Archie, were beside me, feeding me, talking to me and helping me get better. Fliss was so desperate for me to be there and be well enough to be present for Archie’s birth, my first child.
“On the morning of 11th October, it was explained to me that Archie had died the previous night. Thankfully I was present at Archie’s birth, although I can recall it only from what I have been told. The best way I can describe it is having the worst nightmare and never waking up.”
He continued: “One of my earliest memories after the my injury was three days after Archie’s birth, realising that this was all real and that Archie was gone.
“Grief journeys are complicated and everyone is different. Because I wasn’t there in the latter stages of Fliss’ pregnancy and not present the awful night he died, I struggled to process the information for a long time.
“The chance to spend time with and hold Archie was stolen from me as I was simply unable to cope at that time. At the most difficult juncture in Fliss’ life, I wasn’t able to be there in her time of need but she was always there for me.
“When I was not able to be there for Fliss, Sands were always present, providing the support and understanding community that she needed.”
The couple welcomed their daughter Ada in January and Williams added: “I want to run to make Ada and Fliss proud of me, but especially Archie.
“As I train, my connection with Archie grows and strengthens, giving me the uninterrupted time to think about him and how chaotic life with him and Ada would be!”
