Skip to content

Devon surfer injured by Tourette’s strives to return

A man with Tourette's who had to give up surfing because of injuries caused by severe head jerks and tics is working to get back riding waves, he has said.

Steven Ley, 36, from Braunton, Devon, would spend winters surfing abroad and has taken part in contests.

He was diagnosed with Tourette's when he was six.

For the last three years, he has been unable to surf because of the damage caused to his legs and arms.

Video journalist: Jonathan Morris

Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

4 May 2022

Explore More

A young surfer with a green helmet rides through a crashing white wave. A person in a red jacket watches over a brown wall.

Europe's largest inland surf resort opens in disused quarry

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Debra and

Watch: Mother of slain surfers says ‘shine brighter’ in their memory

Surfers forming a circle in the sea

Surfers pay tribute to tourists found dead in Mexico

Laura Crane at Nazare

UK surfer in a class of her own

Jimmy Simpson

'I love activity which takes me out of my wheelchair'

Severn Bore: People surfing on a river

Surfers enjoy a five-star Severn Bore

Gloucestershire

Surfers raced to California's famous Mavericks Beach surf spot to ride the huge waves

Surfers brave huge waves as storm batters US coast

Otter on surfboard

Otter attempts to steal surfboard

Sharks

Drone shows great white sharks swimming under surfers

Child on surfboard with surf instructor

Surf therapy brings out children's 'inner dolphin'

Tom Lowe at Teahupo'o

Big wave surfer seriously injured in 'brutal' fall

Several attempts to reach the stranded surfer were thwarted by powerful breaking waves.

Rescuers save the life of surfer swept along coast

Surfers riding the wave of the River Severn

Surfers and kayakers ride year's first Severn Bore

Gloucestershire

Steve Davies has designed a surfboard using fungi to make it more biodegradable

There's mush-room for innovation in surf design

Dean Pounder

Surfing provides therapy for front line workers

Tom Lowe

'All or nothing' for big wave surfer

Image of young girl using the Nicole tool whilst surfing

New tool helping people with prosthetic arms surf

Child surfing in a specially-adapted surfboard with a seat

'It's amazing to see her in the sea on a surfboard'

surfing dog

Dogs expertly ride waves at surfing championships

Surfing

How surfing has helped brain injury survivors

A wallaby seen in a garden

Wayward wallaby spotted in Devon garden

The Australian marsupial is seen grazing in the Devon garden before hopping away.

Kitesurfer Tom Bridge leaps from cruise ship

Ship leap 'probably scariest thing I've done'

Kitesurfer Tom Bridge leaps 129ft (39m) from the top of a cruise ship and makes a smooth landing.

The Reverend Leigh Winsbury works out at his gym in Hatherleigh, Devon

Vicar opens gym in church building

The Reverend Leigh Winsbury says the cut-price gym is open to worshippers and weightlifters.

Young person talking into a microphone being held in front of them

Young voters share their election priorities

The cost of living, the environment and better mental health support were among the issues raised.

Pirate flags

Pirates Weekend returns for swashbuckling fun

Thousands of pirates are descending on Plymouth for a weekend of fun and entertainment.

Charlotte Cheshire's video diary

Devon mum's video diary tells home-find struggle

Charlotte Cheshire speaks of the battle for an affordable home and council-funded emergency housing.

Newsround presenter Nina Blissett in front of a screen showing an unearthed unexploded WW2 bomb.

World War Two bomb safely exploded out at sea

A World War Two bomb has been safely exploded out at sea after being discovered in a back garden in Plymouth.

Cyclist and tractor

Video: Dashcam footage show driving offences

Vision Zero South West says last year was the busiest year since the operation was set up in 2019.

Ponies

Patients treated to festive visit from ponies

Festive ponies have been visiting Derriford Hospital's ICU garden in Plymouth.

Keyframe #5

Police puppies put through their paces

Two litters of German shepherd puppies are on track to become Devon and Cornwall police dogs.

Erasure

Artist wants people to rub out her work

Why artist Fran Gynn is giving people an eraser and asking them use rub out her work.

Steve Wharton goes out with his children

First time outside in 18 months for man with MND

Steve Wharton took his children to soft play on his first trip out of the house in more than a year.

South Sands Hotel

Doors burst open as waves crash into hotel

Storm Ciarán brings chaos to a hotel as sea-facing doors are blown off their hinges by huge waves.

Car in the sea

Devon and Cornwall battered by wind and waves

Watch as Storm Ciarán causes flooding and damage in Devon and Cornwall.

Keyframe #3

Car washed into sea gets smashed about by waves

The 4x4 vehicle was left unattended when it was dragged off a promenade during Storm Ciarán.

Car overtaking on A road

Poor driving in Devon and Cornwall caught on camera

A record number of submissions is made to the police road safety initiative Operation Snap.

Blackberries in a hand

Early blackberries sign of 'climate breakdown'

Early fruiting from blackberries is a sign of "climate breakdown", an expert forager claims.

Swimmer

Long-distance swimmer tackles the Hudson River

Lewis Pugh says the 315 mile (507km) swim is one of his most challenging yet.

Keyframe #1

Students finish coast path walk on breakwater

The Devon Royal Navy students were granted access to the breakwater to finish the walk.

People playing on harbour wall and slipway

Child swept into sea by harbour waves

Warnings are issued after a child is swept to sea at Ilfracombe Harbour.