Vinnie Jones, at 60, is no stranger to wild stories from his past, but one of the most memorable tales involves a pet tortoise, a landscaping project, and a bit of unintentional chaos.
The former footballer turned Hollywood actor found himself caught up in an unforgettable mishap during his time with Wimbledon in the mid-1980s.
A Landscaping Project Gone Wrong
In an unusual twist, Vinnie was asked by his friend, football midfielder Wally Downes Sr, to help out with some landscaping at his new house.
As Vinnie got to work building the patio, he was unaware that the former owner of the house had left behind their tortoise, which was hibernating under the ground.
The plan was for the previous owner to come back later and collect the pet, but that didn’t quite go according to plan.
The Great Tortoise Rescue
As the patio was laid, neither Vinnie nor the family realized the tortoise was buried beneath the fresh paving.
It was only after the work was completed that they discovered the unfortunate situation.
Wally Downes Jr, the son of the midfielder, recalled the moment in an interview, revealing how Vinnie and his teammates had to frantically tear up the newly laid patio with a sledgehammer to rescue the tortoise.
Wally Jr shared the hilarious image of the team digging up the ground while frantically searching for the pet, shouting, “Where the f*** has he buried it?… Get the f***ing thing up before it suffocates!” The neighbors, no doubt, were in shock as they watched the frantic scene unfold.
Luckily, the tortoise, named Lightning, was saved just in time and lived to tell the tale.
Wally Jr even mentioned that the tortoise, incredibly, is still alive today.
Vinnie Jones’ Quirky Reaction
When Vinnie was asked about the incident years later, his response was classic: “Play on, son.
The ref didn’t see it.” It’s clear that the hardman-turned-actor has a sense of humor about his past, even the most chaotic moments.
Vinnie Jones: A Healthier Life with Emma Ford
Beyond his wild past, Vinnie’s life these days is much calmer and healthier, thanks to his new girlfriend, Emma Ford.
The couple recently made their first public appearance together at Vinnie’s West End debut of Only Fools and Horses.
Vinnie, who now lives on a farm in West Sussex, credited Emma for helping him maintain a healthy lifestyle as he enters his sixties.
When asked about his fitness routine, Vinnie revealed that it’s not daily exercise that keeps him in shape but rather a healthy diet.
“I just watch my food. I don’t eat crap – I eat healthy,” he said.
He also pointed to Emma, affectionately calling her “Blondie,” and added, “and I’ve got a good chef.”
A Healthier Lifestyle Together
Emma, a former model and star of the noughties lads’ channel Men & Motors, has also made changes in her life.
She gave up drinking after years of hard partying in Los Angeles, and she supports Vinnie in his 12 years of sobriety.
The couple, who met in 2022 when Emma became Vinnie’s personal assistant, share a deep bond that is clear for all to see.
The two were introduced by the pandemic and Vinnie’s rural life on his West Sussex farm.
Emma even featured in a documentary series about Vinnie’s farm life that aired on Discovery+ last November.
Moving Forward After Tragedy
Vinnie’s new chapter with Emma is even more meaningful considering the heartbreaking loss of his late wife, Tanya.
Vinnie and Tanya, who married in 1994, faced a long battle with her illness after she was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013.
Tanya passed away in 2019, after the cancer spread to her brain.
Vinnie has now found happiness once again with Emma, but the memories of his late wife will always remain with him.
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