I’m a 30 something engineer turned swim coach! Yes it’s a funny story, well not that funny really. in 2015 i had a serious accident at work and broke my back badly, together with sustaining a brain injury. I was left paralysed from the waist down - told by the medical profession to get ready for the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I was just 27 years old.

with support from family and friends i managed to fight my way back to health. With some feeling restoring in my legs i began hydrotherapy, this led to gentle swimming, learning to walk again and eventually swimming channel relays and taking on the length of many of the famous lakes in the lake district - a place I truly love and call home.

mine became not only a physical struggle but one of serious mental health issues, with deep depression and at my lowest points even attempts to take my own life.

i won’t go on, if you get a chance to watch the trailer to the documentary that was generously and beautifully made by my friend rachel sarah you can learn more.

swimming became not only my saviour and my passion but it is now my career. i trained with the best of the best as a swim coach and have taught numerous people to swim over the years. I have run week long swim camps overseas in places such as malta and the maldives. i have made a life and lifelong friends around swimming and all that it has to offer.

i have developed a stroke of my own that works perfectly in the pool or on long distance open water challenges, it is constructed from everything i have learned from various forms and stroke techniques. IT is effective, effortless and enjoyable.

As well as being a fully qualified swim coach, i also hold various water saftey and lifeguard qualifications - you will be safe with me! I also have a mental first aider qualification.

my approach is one of fun, building rapport and trust whilst ensuring learning is technically correct but fun.

an ambassador for the big blue foundation, a marine conservation charity and involved in various mens mental health groups, i also talk at schools frequently about my story.

ultimately i am just a lad from scunthorpe, you get what you get but i can promise you i will always give you my all. Thank you for reading!