Chris Thrall was born in South-East London. Aged eighteen, he joined the Royal Marines Commandos.

Following active service in the Northern Ireland Conflict and training in Arctic warfare and survival, he earned his parachutist’s ‘wings’ and operated as part of a high-security detachment onboard an aircraft carrier. 

In 1995, Chris moved to Hong Kong to oversee the Asia-Pacific expansion of a million-dollar marketing operation he’d built part-time while serving in the forces. Six months later, he was homeless, in psychosis from crystal meth addiction and working as a nightclub doorman for the 14K, Hong Kong’s most ruthless triad brotherhood.

In 2011, Chris wrote the internationally bestselling memoir Eating Smoke, a frank, disturbing yet often hilarious account of his experience. He has spoken on numerous podcasts, radio and television programs and has co-produced two award-wining radio plays on his life and memoir. Forty Nights, Chris’s 2019 follow-up, details how he used chronic addiction as a springboard to achieve all of his life’s goals.

A qualified pilot, skydiver, snowboarder and ultra-runner, Chris has traveled across eighty countries on seven continents, including backpacking through all of North, Central and South America. He has run a sub-four London Marathon and completed a quadruple ironman of a 9-mile swim, 450-mile cycle and 107-mile run. In 2018, with zero training for three years following spinal surgery, he ran an ultra-marathon every day for 37 days, 999 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End, solo, unsupported and carrying 14kgs of camping equipment, to raise awareness of veterans’ suicide and £18K for charity.

In 1999, Chris firewalked 120 meters over red-hot coals to raise money to work with street children in post-war Mozambique. He has driven aid workers from Norway to India and back on a 1978 British Leyland bus, dived off the cliff in Acapulco, fished for piranhas in the Amazon, scuba-dived with bull sharks in Belize and leopard seals and icebergs while exploring the Antarctic Polar Circle.

For his humanitarian approach to life, Chris was awarded the Second Level Commendation of the Finnish Nation on the grounds of human generosity. He has a degree in youth and community work, is a substance-misuse and addiction specialist and a life-changing speaker. He currently lives in Plymouth, England, where he still intends to become an astronaut, a dolphin trainer or the Milky Bar Kid.

Chris firewalked forty metres over red-hot coals to raise money to work with street children in war-torn Mozambique. He has driven volunteer journalists to India and back in an old school bus to highlight global inequality and poverty. Chris was awarded the Second Level Commendation of the Finnish Nation on the grounds of Human Generosity for his ability to inspire others.

While backpacking through every country in North, Central and South America, he dived off the famous cliff in Acapulco, caught piranhas and survived without equipment in the Amazon rainforest and snorkeled with bull sharks off Belize. In colder climes, he has scuba-dived with leopard seals and icebergs in the sub-zero waters of the Antarctic Polar Circle.

Chris wrote the bestselling memoir Eating Smoke, a frank yet humorous account of his time down and out in Hong Kong. He has appeared on numerous podcasts and radio and television programs and two award-wining radio plays have been made about his life. Forty Nights, Chris’s second memoir, details how the life-changing experience of addiction led to his enlightenment and wellbeing.

Speaker in Mental Health for the Rotary Club of Great Britain.

Chris Thrall’s empathy should be lauded and applauded

Zero negativity and a positive mind.

There are inspirational life stories and then there is Chris Thrall’s

What an absolutely incredible and wonderful thing Chris is doing

Chris’ ‘can do’ attitude is a real inspiration, making you feel like you can achieve anything

Chris shows pure grit and determination, showing that anything is possible if you put your mind to it!