When newsreader Dermot Murnaghan was told he had stage 4 cancer, he felt his world collapse. But what followed was an unexpected act of kindness from one of Britain’s most decorated Olympians — Sir Chris Hoy.

Sir Chris, who announced in 2024 that he was battling stage 4 prostate cancer, took the time to personally call Murnaghan after hearing of his diagnosis. That phone call, described by Murnaghan as a “mental lifeline,” offered the broadcaster calm, strength, and guidance in a moment of despair.

Before his diagnosis, Murnaghan had delayed a health check despite being inspired by Sir Chris’s public journey with cancer. But while on a trip to Southeast Asia, strange symptoms set in. He returned home in severe pain and went straight to A&E. Just five hours later, he learned the cancer had spread rapidly and he needed emergency surgery.

Reflecting on the chaos of that moment, Murnaghan admitted he was flooded with regret. “Why didn’t I get checked? What have I done to my family?” he wrote in The Times.

Then came Hoy’s voice on the phone — calm, reassuring, and deeply personal. The Olympic legend shared his own story of being given just two to four years to live and how he chose to focus on joy, gratitude, and the importance of every day.

Speaking to TNT Sport, Sir Chris said: “It rocked my world. One sentence and everything changed. But life goes on — I’m here to show that.”

Since Hoy opened up about his condition, appointments for prostate cancer checks have surged by 700%. His work — alongside his wife Sarra — to raise awareness has earned them both the Freedom of the City of London.

“This is bigger than the Olympics,” Sir Chris said. “This is about life itself.”