About Jimmy

On Tuesday 3rd August 2004 Jimmy had an accident whilst rock-climbing in Wales that was to change his life forever.

Jimmy and Claire, his climbing partner and close friend, fell 60 feet onto hard sand and both sustained multiple injuries. Despite the best efforts of the coastguards, RAF Sea King and paramedics, tragically Claire did not survive the fall.

Jimmy was airlifted to Morriston Hospital with a T4 break of the spine and severed spinal cord. He had broken his leg and wrist, crushed his rib cage and lost his front teeth. He also had severe internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen, inverted kidney, and two punctured lungs, one of which had collapsed.

Jimmy made it safely through the first critical weeks in Morriston's Intensive Care Unit, and was transferred to the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville where he underwent several operations on his spine, leg and wrist, and began the long road to recovery.

After 12 months of intensive rehabilitation most of Jimmy's injuries had healed well, although Jimmy was left permanently paralysed from the chest down.

Jimmy's Background

Jimmy has always been a very active person, enjoying a wide range of sporting and adventure training activities.

Whilst at school at Oundle he played rugby for the 1st XV and was a very active member of the school CCF. Those of you who were at Oundle with Jimmy may also remember some extra-curicular tactical activities!

After leaving Oundle, Jimmy spent a very busy gap-year in Australia with Tom, Ed and Keith, after working on building sites to fund the trip. On returning to England he spent a few years back on the building sites again, and dabbled with university.

The hard labour certainly prepared him well for the Royal Marines Reserve which he joined during this time. Whilst on the Commando Course he was awarded the coveted Commando Medal, only occasionally awarded.

Jimmy returned again to studying with a Telecommunications HND at Reading College, where he met a few colourful characters from both the university and the college, sharing houses with many of them over the years. This course led to a job with Nortel Networks, and Jimmy finally had a "proper job"!

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Having progressed in this job for a couple of years, he decided that the physical challenges were lacking and the outdoor life called him again. He had an open place at Sandhurst from a few years before, and decided to take this up in May 2002. At Sandhurst Jimmy again started many new and lasting friendships, and it was here that he met Claire.

Jimmy's graduation from Sandhurst was a proud moment for all his family and friends, particularly as a Junior Under Officer, standing at the head of his platoon. Click on the photo to the left and see Tony Blair inspecting Jimmy's shiny shoes!

From Sandhust Jimmy joined the Royal Artillery and was offered a place at 29 Commando, who provide artillery support to the Royal Marines. After completing the Commando Course for the second time (there can't be many!) and a Winter in Norway he was based in Arbroath with 45 Commando Group. His time up there was again packed with a range of activities, from rock-climbing the local crags to sampling the high-life of Edinburgh, getting to know the local girls!

While on summer leave Jimmy and Claire went on a rock-climbing holiday to South Wales, where they had their unfortunate accident.

Life After The Accident

Since leaving hospital Jimmy has adapted to his new life in a wheelchair and has continued to enjoy an active lifestyle filled with sport, travel and adventure. Two months after discharge he completed the full distance London triathlon and the next day set off for 2 months travelling round Spain. Returning from Spain he started an undergraduate Sport and Exercise Science Course at Loughborough University, in which he is currently in his second year.

It was whilst on holiday from university that Jimmy completed his first expedition to Kilimanjaro. Jimmy is enjoying being back at Uni and seems to be making the most of his holidays with recent visits to Arizona and Kenya where he stayed with local families and sampled local culture.

Once he has finished studying Jimmy hopes to work in the field of improving the quality of life of those with disabilities through sport and outdoor pursuits.

Jimmy currently does a lot of work with the Spinal Injuries charity ‘Back-Up’ as a wheelchair skills instructor and team leader on their rehabilitation weeks.  See the ‘Charities’ section for more info on this.