Former Canadian Olympic rowing champion Silken Laumann is sharing a powerful New Year's message about life's fragility after a terrifying encounter with a wasp nearly ended her life last year.
A Remote Hike Turns Life-Threatening
The Mississauga native detailed the harrowing incident in a social media post on New Year's Day 2026, reflecting on the lessons learned from 2025. The crisis unfolded in February 2025 while Laumann was hiking on a remote island in New Zealand.
Laumann was stung by a wasp and went into anaphylactic shock "within minutes." Fortunately, she had followed medical advice to carry an EpiPen, a decision reinforced by her husband, David Patchell-Evans, who reminded her to pack it for the trip.
Moments of Clarity in a Fight for Survival
As she lost consciousness, her brother-in-law administered the epinephrine auto-injector. When she regained awareness, Laumann felt "nauseous and shaking" and instinctively knew a second, potentially fatal reaction was imminent.
Stranded deep on a trail without cellphone reception, the gravity of the situation struck her. "I sat down at one point and stared at a blanket of moss at the base of a tree and realized I was dying," Laumann recounted. "This is unexpected. I didn't think I would die this way."
Despite the dire circumstances, Laumann described an unexpected sense of calm and overwhelming gratitude, seeing her life as "one beautiful canvas." This moment of peace was quickly followed by a fierce determination: "I jolted myself back: I want to live. I need to see my kids again."
A Second Reaction and a New Outlook
Emergency personnel eventually reached her location. Nearly three hours after the initial sting, Laumann suffered the predicted second anaphylactic reaction. This could have been fatal without the epinephrine and steroids paramedics had already administered.
"Because of them, I am here," she stated gratefully.
The brush with mortality has profoundly changed Laumann's daily perspective. She now consciously savors life's simple moments. "I linger longer. I notice the light. I read a little more each morning," she shared. "If the sun is shining and the grass is dry, I lie on the ground with the dogs a little longer. I end my days naming what I'm grateful for."
She incorporates meditation, breathwork, and yoga to stay grounded and present. Her reflection concluded with a poignant reminder: "Life is fragile. Life is beautiful. Welcome, 2026. I'm very glad to see you."
