In September 2020, Phil developed cauda equina syndrome, a rare condition that occurs when the nerves in the lower spine are compressed, after picking up a small piece of wood. As a result of his injury, Phil has lost movement from the waist down and uses a wheelchair.

He said, “I couldn’t believe that picking up that small piece of wood could cause so much damage. I was extremely low and my mental health suffered greatly. I couldn’t go back to work, I couldn’t coach my kids’ rugby teams anymore, I’d lost my social network. I just couldn’t do the things I could do before.”

Spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time and the latest data shows that there are 105,000 people living with spinal cord injury in the UK today, nearly double the number than previously thought.