Amputee hopes tennis success will inspire others

A wheelchair tennis player is hoping to inspire others to pick up a racket after finding the sport when he lost his leg.

Jack Wells has gone from strength to strength on the court, rising to become one of the country's best talents.

Despite having his left leg amputated due to cancer six years ago, the 34-year-old from Grays, Essex, has excelled.

"You can have some really bad things happen in your life, but it really isn't the end of everything," Wells told BBC Essex Sport Extra.

Alongside his talent with a racket, Wells has also racked up a large online following thanks to viral dances he performs, as reported in the Echo.

It was all part of an effort to prove to others that life continued after a cancer diagnosis.

"Once you've been through something quite drastic like losing a leg, you just want to enjoy every moment," Wells said.

"I've had more opportunities than I ever had before because it's made me put myself out there."

Wells first started playing tennis aged 14, but his ability to continue was thrown into doubt when he was told he had cancer.

It was the second cancer diagnosis he had received, having battled leukaemia at seven years old.

"I didn't really think about the logistics of what losing a limb meant, but at the time it was like save my life or save my leg - and I'm saving my life every time," he explained.

"But once I lost my leg, I found wheelchair tennis and I probably prefer wheelchair tennis than I ever enjoyed playing [before]."

Wells now wants to inspire others who have lost a limb to get involved in sport.

"I think what puts a lot of people off playing wheelchair sports is a stigma that maybe comes with sitting in a chair," he added.

"But trust me, once you're on a court and you're playing tennis, rugby, whatever it is – the wheelchair is part of it and you just embrace it. It's brilliant."

As for the challenges brought on by adapting to sport on wheels, Wells insisted there was not much difference.

He said: "It's no different than someone learning to play tennis on their feet.

"Once you've mastered the wheelchair technique I'd like to say it's kind of the same concept.

"Previously I could hit a ball but I couldn't get to the ball. Now I can do both and it's helped me progress in the sport."

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