The trout and grayling season started wonderfully for me and all my groups this spring. Everything was going well with my fishing trips — until May 22nd, when I made the not-so-bright decision to play Spider-Man, jump between terraces, and fell about five meters.
That misadventure landed me in the hospital for 25 days. I managed to break my nose, jaw, cheekbones, and even my heel. Thankfully, I avoided brain or spine damage — a small miracle that kept me from far worse outcomes.
Here’s a short story of my recovery journey over the past four months — from broken bones to slowly stepping back into my normal life.
The Hospital Stay
When I was fourteen, I also broke my cheekbone and spent time in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — not a place anyone wants to revisit. This time, during my hospital stay, I ended up visiting three different floors.
First came the Intensive Care Unit, then the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ward, and finally the Orthopaedic department, where surgeons repaired my heel and fixed it with two screws.
The whole stay turned out to be much longer than expected. Between the operations, I developed a hospital-acquired infection, and the doctors had to treat it thoroughly before they could safely operate on my heel. I won’t go into the details, but it was a true nightmare.
Still, there were a few bright spots. During my heel surgeries, I discovered that both surgeons were passionate trout fishermen — and the nurse kept showing me photos of her husband’s latest catches. Those small fishing conversations and shared stories were a surprising comfort in the middle of a very tough time.
I don’t have photos from the very beginning — the ones I’m sharing here were taken after my facial surgeries, once my nose and jaw had already been repaired.
Getting Out of The Hospital
Getting out of the hospital after 25 long days felt almost unreal. I was still sore, swollen, and moving carefully — and after having my jaw wired shut with elastic bands for 20 days, even talking and eating felt strange. But I was finally free. The first breath of fresh air outside the hospital doors felt like a victory on its own. I left with my face repaired and two screws in my heel, but also with a deep sense of gratitude: for the doctors who put me back together, for my family and friends who stood by me, and for the simple fact that I was alive and able to heal.
Once home, I began learning to walk with crutches and started physiotherapy to rebuild my strength. Recovery was slow and unpredictable — I had to cancel or reschedule all my June fishing trips and missed the chance to guide in Norway in July, something I had been really looking forward to. My partner Christo took some of the groups and did a great job guiding them! I had also hoped to celebrate my birthday with friends, but a sudden bout of vertigo made it impossible to stand or walk for long. It was frustrating, but it reminded me that healing isn’t a straight line — and that every small step forward still counts.
During those early weeks, I spent most of my time with my father, and I’m deeply grateful to him and to all my family and friends who visited and supported me. Their presence — helping with small things, keeping me company, and lifting my spirits — made the long days lighter and reminded me I wasn’t alone in this journey.
The First day Fishing of my Second Life
I wasn’t allowed to step on my foot for two months — no cast or anything, just strict orders not to put weight on it. When I finally began easing onto it and started to feel a bit stronger, I thought, maybe I’m ready to get back into my waders.
On August 9th, after more than two months without fishing — the longest dry spell of my life — I finally returned to the water. My wife joined me for an afternoon of dry-fly fishing on the Vucha River in Bulgaria. There was a great hatch, and we both managed to catch some fish.
The feeling of being back on the river was unreal — pure freedom and joy after so long. There was just one funny problem: I couldn’t really cut the tippet with my teeth anymore. Looks like I’ll need to ask the orthodontists to help with that in the future, too
Back to Guiding
After my first outing on the water, it was time to get back to business and start guiding again. My first group was a team of Germans. I did this trip in collaboration with Flyrus and Colin Catchup. I was still far from being able to wade all day, so my partners Christo and Deyan joined me for support on this first trip after the accident.
Soon after, I guided my first solo client, Kevin from Australia. I couldn’t pass up the chance to guide someone who had travelled from so far away. We didn’t catch anything record-breaking, but we landed plenty of fish and had a fantastic day on the water. I could feel my strength slowly returning.
On the days I wasn’t guiding, I continued with physiotherapy to rebuild mobility and endurance. I also managed a short trip with my family to the Black Sea coast, which felt like a milestone in everyday life returning.
Then came a whole week with a group of young Swiss anglers — my first proper guiding since the accident. For the first time, I managed to walk the river all day long with my clients. It felt incredible and freeing — a true blessing to return to my normal pace and do what I love most.
These Days and Beyond
My last trip of the trout season in Bulgaria was with a wonderful Canadian couple — Mike and Sue. Mike and I explored some of Bulgaria’s beautiful waters and were lucky enough to land a few stunning trout, which truly made me feel like I’m back on track. I also managed to hike with my wife and son to Bulgaria’s high mountain lakes at 2,300 meters, a place I love deeply. It was a tough one-and-a-half-hour hike each way, but reaching those lakes felt like a huge victory. It was also my five-year-old son’s first visit there, which made it even more special — it kind of felt like I was seeing those beloved lakes for the first time, too.
I also managed to visit the Bulgarian fly fishing Fair and gave a casting demonstration there. It wasn`t crowded, but I was glad to meet with many old friends!
Now, as the trout season comes to an end, I know I missed a big part of it this summer, but I feel incredibly fortunate for such a fast recovery. I promised myself — and everyone who stood by me — that I would come back stronger than before, and I haven’t given up on that promise.
I’m already looking ahead to two amazing weeks of salmon fishing in the UK, followed by a real adventure chasing saltwater species in a distant destination with my partner Herle Hamon. In December, I’ll return to the Hucho front in Slovenia. I’ll keep you updated on these upcoming trips and share plans for next year’s schedule — so stay tuned!
