James Cracknell separates from his 17-year-old wife who cared for him

James Cracknell and his 17-year-old wife announced their split.

Radio host and writer Beverley Turner, who has three children with the Olympic rower, brought him back to health after his devastating brain injury in 2010.

The couple issued a joint statement confirming the news of their wedding on Friday night.

They explained that they had decided to split up last year and that their children Croyde, 14, Kiki, 10 and Trixie, eight, remained their priority.

James, 46, left the London home that he shared with Beverley eight months ago and lives at the University of Cambridge as an adult student in his master's program in human evolution.

"We can confirm that, unfortunately, we separated last year," reads the statement.

"Together, we remain committed to our wonderful children, they are our top priority and we want people to be kind and aware of that."

The couple was pressured into their marriage after James crashed in 2010.

When filming a show in which he was crossing America, he was hit by a fuel tanker truck traveling at 100 km / h and suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

His wife, a radio presenter, rushed to his side, leaving their young children at home with their family in the UK.

The gold medalist explained how the accident changed his personality overnight, after damaging his frontal lobe.

With the support of his family, he slowly rebuilt his life by saying in 2015: "The biggest challenge was knowing that 80% of all people with brain injuries ended up getting divorced." All I wanted to hear was Bev was saying, "You're back."

Beverley also hinted at tensions in their marriage during an interview last year, saying that they had to work hard on their relationship and wanted to stay together for their children.

"Overall, it is better that we stay together although it is incredibly difficult.

"We've been together for 17 years and we were first together, I think Heat magazine did a" we give it two weeks "and that's what led us to prove that people were wrong. it's not perfect. "

Beverley added, "In reality, every relationship will go a little too fast."

A friend of the couple told Mail Online: "It's always sad when a marriage breaks up and theirs is no different.

"I do not think anyone else is involved, they just seem to be separated and separated at the end of last year."

They added that the couple would remain friends and focus on educating their three children.

Their separation comes as James prepares to become the oldest person to participate in the boat race next week as a member of the Cambridge University team.

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