Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Max’s story 

In 2009, aged 17, Max was playing rugby at school when he was pulled down awkwardly.

White Overlay

Max can clearly remember the day that changed his life. In 2009, aged 17, he was playing rugby at school when he was pulled down awkwardly on the last play, snapping his neck. As soon as he hit the floor, he knew what had happened. It was like the lights had been switched off from the chest down – no pain, just nothingness. Fear struck and his main memory was crying and calling for his mother.

Thankfully the medical support that day was fantastic. A nurse ran straight onto the pitch and didn’t allow Max to move, before an ambulance took him to Derriford hospital in Plymouth. Their actions that day most likely saved his life.

Much of the next month he was sedated on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. He developed pneumonia due to weakened lungs, and it was touch and go as to his survival. This was to repeat itself a few months later. Fortunately, both times he survived and spent the next 9 months undergoing rehab in the Salisbury spinal injury unit.

"Since my accident, I have travelled around the world. Due to the military background of my family, travelling is an important part of my life."

Since then, he has gone on to achieve a lot. He immediately returned to school to complete his A levels, followed by attaining first class honours and a masters in Economics at UEA. These qualifications allowed him to pursue a career working as an economist for the DWP while living in London with his long term girlfriend. The effects of the pandemic, however, resulted in him spending a considerable portion of the past year at his family home in Cornwall.

Since the accident, he has done lots of travelling, visiting Ethiopia, Uganda, Andorra, France, Fuerteventura and even spent 6 weeks driving around the USA. His family’s military background means travelling is something he has grown up with and is an important and stabilising part of his life. He is now planning a trip to drive an all-terrain vehicle through Africa.

Max remains an avid rugby and sports fan in general, regularly attending live fixtures (where most of his earnings go). Working within the sports sector as an economist is a great aspiration of his and something he continues to work towards. During the pandemic he has connected with other injured rugby players to form a support group and they are looking forward to regular meet-ups and trips in the future.

Community stories

Read more stories of people with a spinal cord injury and the hope they have that, one day, research will help them.
Read more

Our Research

Research facilities around the world are developing a range of cutting-edge treatment pathways, some now in clinical trial. 
Read more

Latest news

Find out about our most recent news updates, and the latest information on our new spinal research projects and trials.
Read more