Flintshire horror crash teenager tells how wheelchair basketball helped him come to terms with life-changing injuries

A teenager, who was awarded more than £2m after a serious crash left him with life-changing injuries and reliant on a wheelchair, has earned a place on Great Britain’s Under-19s basketball squad.

Jack Barlow, from Mostyn, was awarded £2,250,000 compensation after sustaining multiple injuries when the car he was travelling in was involved in a fatal smash on the A548 at Gwespyr, Flintshire, in July 2012.

Jack, who was 13 at the time, had to be airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where he was resuscitated.

Injuries

Examinations revealed Jack had suffered a spinal cord injury which resulted in numbness and loss of movement in his lower back. He also suffered lacerations to his right kidney and fractures to his ribs, hip, femur and pelvis.

Jack needed intense physiotherapy and was transferred to Oswestry Spinal Unit in the September where he received treatment to help him walk again, along with psychology and occupational therapy to help him come to terms with the accident. He was eventually discharged in November 2012.

But two years later, doctors noticed his right hip was deteriorating and it had developed avascular necrosis, a disease which causes the bone tissue to die due to a lack of blood supply, resulting in further surgery.

The Coleg Cambria engineering student now suffers from foot drop – paralysis that makes it difficult to lift the front part of the foot and toes – and he will need several hip replacements throughout his life.

Taking up wheelchair basketball

Jack, who is reliant on a wheelchair because he is unsteady on his feet, said: “My life has changed dramatically. During my recovery, wheelchair basketball was recommended to me by my physiotherapist [Angela Norton], but at first, I wasn’t so sure about taking it up as I wasn’t a very sporty person.

“I’m glad I did it now, as I don’t know where I’d be without basketball.

“I’ve been able to regain my confidence and the support I’ve received has been incredible.

“I love wheelchair basketball – it’s a great sport that has enabled me to meet new people and come to terms with my injuries.

Jack, who has a brother Billy, 17, and Charlie, three, plays for North Wales Knights, based in Colwyn Bay , as well as Great Britain’s Wheelchair Basketball side at Under-19 level.

Last year he tried out for the under-23 team and didn’t make the cut but he hasn’t ruled out trying again.

A terrible ordeal

Adrian Denson, a serious injury solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors who worked on the case, said: “Jack has been through a terrible ordeal and as a result, he’s sustained some really serious life-changing injuries.

“Throughout his case, we have fought for him to receive the compensation he was entitled to in order to help aid in his recovery and help him regain his independence.

“It’s great to see that Jack is getting his life back on track and has found a new love for wheelchair basketball. We hope he continues in his recover and goes on to achieve his goals and dreams.”

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