Veteran's mission after learning to 'live again'

A paralysed former sailor says veteran charities helped him "live again" after a swimming pool incident left him unable to walk.

Neil Francis, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, joined the Navy at 16, but a few months after his training he hit his head on the shallow end of a swimming pool in Dubai, which left him tetraplegic, where both arms and legs have limited mobility.

The 49-year-old is now encouraging people to walk "a mile or more" in April to raise funds for the organisations that have supported him throughout his life.

"Approaching 50, I just want to give back to the charities that helped me get to 50," said Mr Francis.

Mr Francis explained he was on a tour around the Gulf when his accident happened.

"When we were on shore leave in Dubai we went for a swim.

"I hit my head on the shallow end and received a compound fracture," he said.

Mr Francis spent two weeks in hospital and underwent two operations.

After the second, which was on his neck, he could not move his hands or feet.

He was flown back to the UK, where he spent months rehabilitating at Salisbury Hospital, in Wiltshire.

The Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) then offered to support to his mother who was eight months pregnant with Mr Francis' younger brother.

"That took all the pressure off me and I was able to go through rehab," he said.

Another charity helped Mr Francis get work as an IT teacher, which he did for 15 years while also working as a psychotherapist.

But after contracting pneumonia, he was forced to take voluntary redundancy and found himself "stuck at home again" after his first donated wheelchair "gave up completely".

He explained: "Luckily, again, SSAFA was there. It got in touch with Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion and other charities for support, and that has funded wheelchairs, heating, etc."

Mr Francis said being able to go into the woods and off-road in his powered wheelchair made "such a difference".

"Just being able to be a bit of a kid again, be a child. To live again," he added.

Following the challenge, on 3 May there will be a celebratory barbecue event at The Hill, the masonic lodge in Stroud.

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