A sportsman who broke his neck and had his lungs crushed when he jumped off a five-foot sea wall has shared pictures of his defiant recovery in hospital as he sets his sights on the Paralympics.
Josh Payne-Gover, 25, nearly drowned and was left with severe spinal injuries after he dived into shallow water on Weymouth beach earlier this month.
Josh, from Frome, Somerset, was enjoying a day out at the beach with six friends on July 1 when he leaped from the wall into water he thought was much deeper.
But he celebrated his birthday on Monday with friends at hospital in Bath, where he has started off lifting a small pole as he regains movement in his hands, and has vowed to come back stronger.
Josh Payne-Gover, 25, nearly drowned and was left with severe spinal injuries
Josh, who turned 25 on Monday, had to be airlifted to hospital after the shocking accident
Before his accident Josh, a cable puller and ground worker for SSE, was a keen sportsman who enjoyed football, squash, golf, badminton, skiing, mountain biking and going to the gym.
The 25-year-old told MailOnline he realised he was badly hurt when he was pulled out of the water and could not move his legs, while paramedics and fellow beachgoers came to his aid.
He said: ‘When I look back on it, I don’t think I really knew what was happening until I was dragged from the water at which point I realised I had hurt myself because I was unable to move my legs.
‘At the time I was face down in the water and helpless trying to swim, I swallowed a lot of sea water and sand which they were pumping out of my lungs 5 days after the event.
‘My mate realised I was in trouble and pulled me out of the water, not knowing the injuries I had sustained.
Part of the beach was cleared to allow the air ambulance helicopter to land before Josh was stretchered aboard and airlifted to hospital in Southampton.
Medics said he had broken his C7 vertebra and damaged his spinal cord, as well as having his lungs crushed which left him struggling to breathe.
‘I had very little movement in my arms and no movement in my hands which is what I’m currently working very hard at regaining,’ he said.
His parents and brother Aaron have been at his side in hospital, first in intensive care in Southampton and then at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
Josh said his family will have to move house to accommodate his new needs but paid tribute to his friends and relatives for standing by him.
He said: ‘When a situation like this presents itself I dont really think anyone knows how to react. We take every day as it comes but are all trying to remain positive for the future.
Josh Payne-Gover, 25, nearly drowned and was left with severe spinal injuries after he dived into shallow water on Weymouth beach earlier this month
Josh, 25, lifts a pole at the hospital as he makes a gradual recovery following his horror accident on Weymouth beach where he broke his neck after diving into the sea
‘There will be a lot of hurdles like finding a new house that can be adapted though to the small things like living independently, but we’re ready for the challenge.
‘We take every day as it comes but are all trying to remain positive for the future.
‘I’ve watched the World Cup live streamed off my iPad with an England balloon taped to my hand, had 19 friends all packed into my room which was the craziest it’s been.’
His friends have helped him out by arranging special equipment such as a phone stand to help him keep his iPhone in place.
‘I still have no grip strength and when I first tried using my iPhone I dropped it onto my face which wasn’t good so we learnt from that,’ he said.
He said: ‘It can be frustrating, painful and stressful at times, but no matter how broken your body is, it definitely isn’t the end of everything.
‘You need to stay strong and positive and go all out to achieve your goals, my goals for life has been completely flipped on it’s head. But the motivation remains the same.’
Beachgoers look concerned after Josh was seriously injured at Weymouth beach in early July
Josh, 25, was unconscious when he surfaced and had to be airlifted to hospital with spinal injuries
Josh Payne-Gover was enjoying a day out with friends at Weymouth beach in Dorset when he shocked onlookers as he leapt from a 6ft wall into the sea. Pictured Josh with Tiff Needel.
After the coastguard issued a safety warning Josh has also spoken out to urge other beachgoers to be cautious.
He said that since his injury he had heard many cases of injuries from diving into shallow water and said it would ‘mean the world’ if he could stop the same thing happening to others.
A spokesperson for Wyke Coastguard said at the time: ‘The depth of water changes with the tide even over a short space of time. Objects hidden beneath the surface can and do move with the forces of both waves and tide.
‘Our simple message is please enjoy the outstanding weather sensibly. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.
Josh said: ‘Things you take for granted can be ripped from you with no explanation. ‘Things as simple as the use of your fingers has hit me hard.
‘You can’t live your life in fear and avoid getting the most out of your life, but just knowing how things can change gives me a whole new appreciation for everything.’