S'porean actress Joanne Peh, 42, gets hit by snowboarder while skiing, injures knees

What was supposed to be a happy skiing trip overseas with her husband turned into a stressful and painful one for local actress Joanne Peh.

While skiing in China’s northern Xinjiang region, Peh was knocked over by a snowboarder, leaving her in a knee brace and on crutches.

The 42-year-old told Lianhe Zaobao on Jan. 31 that a check-up at a Chinese hospital revealed no major bone damage, but she had injured her left, right and central cruciate ligaments, and suffered bruising.

She was given a brace to stabilise her knee, instructed to rest for at least one month, and advised to avoid unnecessary movement.

Peh had picked up the sport recently in March 2025.

Skiing alone, hit by snowboarder

Her accident occurred when she was in Altay prefecture in Xinjiang together with her husband and fellow actor Qi Yuwu.

After two days of training, Peh was skiing alone on a beginner slope when she was hit by the snowboarder.

With her boots fixed to both skis, Peh lost her balance and fell awkwardly, injuring her right knee.

“I was in intense pain and panic, and couldn’t react in time because I had never experienced anything like this,” she said.

She tried to stand up but fell back down, which was when she realised she could not ski down the mountain by herself.

The instructor and the snowboarder who hit Peh helped the injured actress to the side.

They contacted the ski resort’s emergency services, but did not wait and left after giving Peh their WeChat contacts.

She then waited alone for the rescue team.

Husband saw responders attending to her

Meanwhile, Peh was unable to reach Qi and grew increasingly worried.

It turned out that he did not have his phone with him and decided to take a cable car up to look for Peh.

“He saw the first responders bringing someone down the mountain, recognised my clothes and hurriedly skied down to find me,” she said.

Peh laughed about how “dramatic” their reunion was, saying: “He said it was the fastest and best time he had ever skied.”

At the hospital, she underwent X-rays and an MRI scan, with a doctor confirming that the injury was severe.

Snowboarder’s response

When Peh texted the snowboarder about the situation, she apparently replied: “You have bought insurance anyway.”

The actress expressed regret about not taking photos or filing a police report when the accident happened, as she was panicking and unfamiliar with the situation.

“Accidents while skiing are common, but I had never experienced one before, so I didn’t know how to handle it – unlike a traffic accident, where I know the procedures,” Peh said.

She added that in such accidents, although the perpetrator may apologise and travel insurance could cover the damage, the perpetrator should still bear responsibility by accompanying the injured person to the hospital, providing assistance, and understanding the extent of the injury.

Rehabilitation

Peh is now experiencing difficulty moving around due to the injury, and she plans to undergo a check-up by a local doctor on Feb. 2.

Although the month-long movement restriction is daunting for the sports enthusiast, Peh said she will bear with it to ensure there are no long-term effects.

Despite the injury, the actress appeared to have stuck to her schedule, as she was seen live-streaming for about four hours on Jan. 31.

Peh has been active as a livestreamer on social media platforms, selling beauty products and jewellery, among other items.

Top photos from qiyuwu/Instagram and Joanne Peh/TikTok Live