The injuries I sustained were multiple and life threatening; a severe traumatic brain injury, a ruptured spleen, broken ribs, collapsed lungs and fractures to my leg, pelvis, and arm. The radial nerve was severed in my arm resulting in a wrist drop. In hospital I developed Pneumonia. After leaving hospital I developed severe Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression as a result of what had happened. I went on to have numerous surgeries, spanning a number of years on my arm and leg to regain full use.

Despite my injuries, I was steadfast in my desire to return to work as quickly as possible. Despite my injuries, I returned to work in a little over four months, where a lengthy recovery process would begin. Due to my injuries of which, without doubt, the brain injury has had the most profound effect, I was unable to perform any front-line policing roles. This led to me assuming an office role.

I tried many different roles; I studied and qualified as a Detective and even got promoted. Each in their own right were great achievements considering the difficulties I experienced from my brain injury.

Determined to prove I was still able to be a Police Officer, I would push myself relentlessly, and each time it it would catch up with me. With each role, I would give 110%, pushing this hard would take its toll. I would burn-out. my mental health would tumble. My PTSD symptoms would rise and it became impossible to function with my brain injury. In April of 2018 – five and a half years after my accident – I was signed off sick from work, never to return to policing.

Throughout my life I had always been active, training hard and spending countless hours in the gym. It was my form of release, somewhere I could go to clear my head. I had struggled to get back on track after the accident, a combination of pain from the injuries and poor mental health. I had been consumed with constantly pushing myself at work, trying to prove to myself that I could do it – this played a huge detriment to my loved ones and to my health.

I was in terrible shape, both mentally and physically. All of my clothes were tight, I was unhappy with how I looked, and I had lost most of my strength. I knew I had to do something about it.

I committed to doing a photo shoot. I had a goal, a target in sight with a specific date. There was no backing out. I tracked everything; my training, my diet, even my sleep, you name it – I tracked it.

During a time in my life where I felt I had no control, this gave me the control I was lacking. No one was making me do this, I was doing it for myself. I started noticing positive changes in my body composition and my strength was returning. My mind-set and mood were changing. My training sessions were cathartic, it was my own form of meditation, rest periods between sets allowed me to process my thoughts and feelings, I found myself confronting demons that had haunted me.

The thought of standing in front of a camera spurred me on. It drove me to push myself to get in the best possible condition. It didn’t dawn on me at the time that I was using my exercise and training the way I had done for many years previously; a way of coping with my stresses and emotions. I had buried my head in the sand, been in denial about what had happened to me and the impact it had.

Physically I was looking great, my body fat levels were next to nothing, Yet, I knew something was wrong. At every possible opportunity I was doing some form of training; whether it was in the gym, riding the bike or walking the dogs. As I walked with Duke the view stretching out for miles, my mind was flooded with thoughts and feelings.

My thoughts turned to my therapist, I had worked with her since the accident. She gave me strength when everything felt like it was falling apart. I shared with her my darkest moments, she built me up and gave me the courage to push on. When I found out she had tragically committed suicide it had set off a chain of events, I was devastated, it rapidly it sent me in to a tailspin. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from underneath me.

I used my training as a coping mechanism. Getting deeper and deeper into the diet and training, I knew that II was masking the real issues. A life I had once known was gone and I was unable to accept it. For years I had mourned the life I once had. I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t continue the way I had been.

Finally, sat opposite my Doctor, I broke down, I admitted I could no longer cope. Many months off work followed, I was finally ready to accept that I could no longer pursue a career in Policing. This would ultimately result in me being medically retired..

Time out enabled me to hit the reset button. I was given an opportunity to assess what really mattered to me. It may be a cliché but when I had become a Police Officer I wanted to be able to help people. I may no longer be in the Police Force, but I hold those values dear to my heart.

Time and time again I had experienced first-hand that in order to achieve your potential, it is crucial to build strong foundations. There is no point in having a good-looking body if everything else in your life is a mess. For years I had been coaching people at work, helping them to reach their potential. You see, coaching is more than skin deep. It involves making sure everything is as good as it can be, this includes mental health, mindset, sleep patterns, stress management and nutrition.

This led me to becoming qualified so I can work with both the body and the mind. I qualified as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach for the body. I then qualified as an Internationally certified coach in Neurolinguistic Programming, Time Line Therapy® and Hypnotherapy for the mind. This enables me to adopt a truly holistic approach to coaching.

My journey has had many ups and downs, there have been countless bumps in the road. I have been battered and bruised, I have burnt out countless times, but all the while I have been building my greatest asset…

… RESILIENCE. I now work with people to enable them to unlock their potential, to overcome obstacles, to be the best versions of themselves and To Live The Life They Deserve.