Before his accident, Tom was a fit and active 20-year old. He was a competitive bodybuilder and an electrical apprentice with Babcock, working on Royal Navy warships in Devonport Dockyard. 

Everything changed in January 2025 when Tom was involved in a collision with a car while riding his motorcycle. He sustained devastating, life-changing injuries, including a severe spinal cord injury that left him with C5 tetraplegia, an open skull fructure, the loss of hearing in his left ear, multiple fractures and numerous other serious injuries.  

Tom spent ten weeks in intensive care, underwent more than 30 hours of surgery, and was initially cared for on Erme Ward before transferring to the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre in Salisbury. During his time there he underwent bilateral cochlear implant surgery, restoring his hearing,
together with further reconstructive procedures.

In September 2025 Tom returned to the South West to continue his rehabilitation at Plym Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, where the exceptional care he received marked the beginning of significant progress. He later transferred to a specialist private rehabilitation unit in Sheffield, where he sadly suffered a major haemorrhagic stroke over Christmas 2025. Following emergency neurosurgery and a further four weeks in intensive care at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, he continued his rehabilitation before returning home to Devon in March 2026.

Today, Tom lives in Roborough with a dedicated team of carers and his much-loved Australian Labradoodle, Waffle. Despite everything he has endured, he continues to make encouraging and, very often, unexpected progress. He has returned to gym-based training through funding provided by the Matt Hampson Foundation and continues to work tirelessly towards greater independence. While there is still a long journey ahead, his determination inspires everyone who meets him.