Climbing wall plunge leaves student, 20, paralysed
A STUDENT has been told he will probably never regain feeling in his legs after a climbing accident.
Ross Smith, of Bolton, was left paralysed from the waist down following a fall at a climbing centre.
The 20-year-old plunged from a climbing wall after the person holding his safety line accidentally picked up the wrong rope.
Ross, who is studying at Newcastle University, fractured his vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord in the fall on November 1 last year.
He has spent several months in hospital undergoing surgery and physiotherapy, but has been told by medics he will probably never gain sensation in his legs again.
He now requires specialist equipment to help him live an ordinary life.
His friends have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £500,000 for equipment and aids to help Ross, including a wet room and wheelchair lifts to help him get upstairs.
Until the floor lifts are installed, Ross will be getting up and downstairs at his home in Egerton by pushing himself up with his arms.
Ross’ friends and family have said they’ve been blown away by his positivity since the accident.
Mum Karen, aged 55, told the M.E.N.: “What struck me is how positive he has been. He has never once shown any anger or blame.
“One of the first things he did was get onto the university to say he will go back in September. He is going to get on with life as best as he can.
“We live in a very small house, we haven’t got a lot of space and finances. His friends picked up on that, and we are overwhelmed by the response.
“He will pay it back in droves, he will be a fantastic doctor, he will be paying it back to all of the people that have helped him as well.
“It is not just the money, it is the messages and support from people.”
Ross said: “It would just make everything a lot easier, just being able to get upstairs on my own. It will give me a lot more independence.
“I am very humbled (by the fundraising) it is hard to put it into words, people I have never met have donated because they have read my story.
“I am 100 per cent going back to university, there is no reason why I shouldn’t.”