Man paralysed from chest down is 'lucky to be alive'

On October 31, 2023, Barry came off his bike while cycling. 

He damaged his T6 spinal cord, fractured his neck, broke his ribs, punctured both lungs, and was unconscious for three weeks.

Barry, 60, spent two weeks in hospital in Spain where he nearly lost his life twice, and then went to Addenbrookes Hospital, where he was in intensive care and then a high dependency unit.

Fitness - Before his accident, Barry did lots of CrossFit and cycling. (Image: Barry Woods) After finally regaining consciousness, he was referred to Stoke Mandeville for its National Spinal Injuries Centre, but found the waiting list was so long he wouldn’t get there until March.

Instead, he went to Ipswich Hospital, where his wife visited him every day as he spent three months diligently working to adapt to life being paralysed from the chest down.

Barry wants to raise awareness about the “brilliant” support he had in Ipswich Hospital while rehabilitating after the horrific accident.

Barry said: “I am in a wheelchair, and I will be in it for the rest of my life.

“Obviously, mentally I was in a bad place to start with—but I’ve had all my dark days, and I’ve slowly got better from those.”

Barry spent a lot of time doing CrossFit and cycling prior to his injury, which helped him be “more determined.”

He said: “Being as fit as I was probably saved my life, because even after the accident I can’t see how I actually got through it.”

Hub - Ipswich Hospital wants to raise awareness about the work it does for people with spinal injuries. (Image: Newsquest) At Ipswich Hospital, Barry worked hard with the nurses and physios to go to the gym, keeping his strength up and lifting himself from one seat to another.

He said: “The staff there were absolutely brilliant. I went to Ipswich on December 15, which was still quite fresh after the accident.

“They are the people who managed to get me out my bed and get me down to the gym—they pretty much got me self-sufficient.”

Ipswich Hospital wants to be recognised as a regional spinal hub, which Barry has returned to help with, even doing a voice recording of his experience for a presentation in Belgium.

He said: “I feel that Ipswich Hospital did so much for me, I just want to pay them back.”

He found it difficult to leave Ipswich because he felt “really comfortable,” but after three months, he was transferred to Stoke Mandeville.

Barry said: “Horacio’s Garden is the place to be, drinking coffee, playing games, eating cake in these beautiful gardens instead of sitting in the ward.

“It’s a great charity-run garden, and it did me a world of good to be in that place.”

Lucky - Barry said his fitness levels probably saved his life (Image: Barry Woods)During his four months at Stoke Mandeville, Barry was discharged to go home on weekends, which he found challenging.

He said: “It was emotionally tough, because you’re surrounded by a lot of people in wheelchairs who become your friends.

“Even the Asda on the hospital grounds is wheelchair friendly, so you can get your shopping, come back and cook your own meal.

“But coming home—now you’re the guy in the wheelchair.”

Barry said “everything was difficult” when he first returned to his home in Witham, but in the nine weeks since, he has been adapting and learning which places are best to cross the road and which paths are “like rollercoasters with dropped curbs all the way down.”

He said: “It’s things like that you adapt to—you’ve got to.

“My fitness level has helped me get through this, because I was a little bit more determined.

“When you’re stuck in bed, all you want to do it get out of the bed.

“Once I got a wheelchair, I was in it, and then I was out.”

Mobile - Barry is able to get out and about in his wheelchair (Image: Barry Woods) Barry has been “determined” to adapt to life and has a lot of support from family and friends.

He said: “My CrossFit club have done a fundraiser for Back Up, a spinal injury charity.

“Two of my friends did the Brighton cycle three weeks ago, and we raised about £2,000 for Horacio’s Garden at Stoke Mandeville—which is a great result.”

Barry’s friend Spencer Blair and David Harris, director of JD Contracts, organised a fundraiser for Barry which raised £14,000 at the company’s annual charity golf Drywall Cup.

Barry said: “We haven’t had any income for a year now, and the only thing that was given to me was the wheelchair.

“Getting the ensuite turned into a wet room and the stairlift fitted and everything else was paid for by us, and anything for mobility is expensive.

“It’s really hard to say how I feel really—I’ve never taken a handout in my life before.

“I’ve been pretty lucky, I have my family and friends around me, and they’re plenty of help just being there.”

Active - Barry recently enjoyed the Spinal Games playing various sports for a week at Stoke Mandeville (Image: Barry Woods) Barry is able to get himself out and about with an electric attachment on the front of his wheelchair.

He goes to the local gym and for a swim, and last week went to Stoke Mandeville after being invited to join the team at the Spinal Games they have every year, funded by the charity Wheel Power.

Barry said: “We did badminton, table tennis, swimming, archery—I was getting involved in wheelchair rugby.

“I used to only do CrossFit and cycling, so it was a bit of an eye opener having to do all these things in a wheelchair.

“It’s pretty new to me at the moment because I’ve only been home for nine weeks, but I’m getting used to it now, it’s all good—I get out and about.

“I had that mentality before the accident, and if I’d been less into fitness, it might’ve been a different story.”

Patients who are treated at Ipswich Hospital's spinal hub have improved function and quality of life, with six out of ten patients able to return home without needing rehab far away from their families and support networks. 

Becky Denwood, Professional and Clinical Lead for Spinal Services, said: "Patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do. 

"We are continuing to fundraise for much needed equipment, so if any groups would like to complete some fundraising for us please contact me via email: rebecca.denwood@esneft.nhs.uk."