The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Book of the week
Rowing across the Pacific Ocean from California To Hawaii would be an arduous task for the best of rowers. But for a blind Royal Marine veteran to achieve this feat and become the first visually impaired person to row across the Pacific? Now that would be extraordinary.
This was just one of the many adventures that Mick Dawson recalls with great fondness in his latest book, Never Leave a Man Behind. Dawson is a former Royal Marine and a highly experienced rower who has spent more than 500 days of his life at sea.
Never Leave a Man Behind tells the stories of two Royal Marine veterans – one traumatised, one blind – who rediscover themselves with the help of Dawson in the course of two epic ocean adventures.
Firstly, we are introduced to Steve Grenham who was let down by the armed forces’ health system when he reached out for help for his PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
Looking to aid his friend, Dawson makes it his mission to get Steve’s life back on track by setting them both the challenge of circumnavigating the Falkland Islands – where they both served during their time in the forces. We are then introduced to Steve Sparkes – or Sparky as he’s known – who was also let down by the forces when his vision began to rapidly deteriorate after a routine Marine training exercise went wrong. Similarly, Dawson looks to help instil confidence back into his former comrade by suggesting that he should take part in the Great Pacific Race and become the first visually impaired man to row across the Pacific.
The transformations that occur for both Steves in this book are inspirational. Rather than wallowing in bitterness due to the system that failed them both, they combine the unique physical and mental strengths they developed in the Marines to overcome formidable challenges.
Dawson’s passion for rowing is evident throughout. Yet, after battling through numerous death-defying situations throughout these treacherous challenges, he rarely strays away from the purposes of the rowing missions.
The book is also full of laughs. Frequent hallucinations, caused by sleep deprivation after days at sea, cause Dawson and both Steves to fight off imaginary birds, camper vans and actual real-life bears on their rowing expeditions.
Never Leave a Man Behind shows how mental and physical disabilities cannot, and are not, allowed to define or undermine the human self. Brimming with courage and camaraderie, you cannot help but be inspired by the strength of the human spirit.
Review by Jamie Wilde.