Race
fan's fight for mobility
by
Joanna Codd
It's
coming up to three years since Steve Tarrant nearly died in a horrific accident
- and he is still fighting his way back to health.
The
motor sports enthusiast was working as a volunteer marshal at the Goodwood
Festival of Speed in June 2000 when a 1968 F1 Lotus left the track at more than
100MPH. The car crashed through the finish gantry, hitting Steve and fellow race
marshal Andy Carpenter, then ploughing into trees, killing driver John
Dawson-Damer instantly. Part of Steve's leg was severed at the scene and he
stopped breathing before being revived by paramedics. Andy died later in
hospital.
Although
Steve remembers nothing about the crash, in those few seconds his life changed
forever. He was left with a severe compound fracture of his left leg, and
abdominal and head injuries. He nearly died four times, developing blood
poisoning, gangrene, and a blood clot. After months in hospital, he was allowed
home and has since shown an amazing determination to overcome his disability.
Steve
has had around 14 operations and was largely bed and wheelchair bound for the
first 18 months following the accident. But he soon defied predictions that he
would never walk again by getting around on crutches, then sticks.
"Hospital
NHS physio stopped for me in October 2001 when I started walking," said 42
year old Steve, of Upton. "I was left on my own for 12 months and damaged
myself by reverting to sticks too soon."
Last
year, he was assessed by Dave Mott, a chartered physiotherapist and partner at
BWT in Lower Parkstone, Poole. Dave was convinced more could be done to improve
Steve's mobility and ease his pain. He came up with a year's programme of
treatment, which started in September and is underwritten by a charity, the
British Motoring Sport Relief Fund.
"Steve's
calf had expanded and his knee and hip function was affected. every activity of
daily living was affected by the fact that he couldn't get around easily,"
explained Dave. "He had a lot of problems with balance when he stood on one
leg. His hip would drop significantly. If he had stayed like that, there would
have been lots of implications for his hip and back. Correcting it would not
only help reduce pain, but subsequent problems."
Steve
started off seeing physiotherapist Nicky Moulds three times a week, then twice a
week. From March he will be on one session a week. He also attends Pilates
classes and he exercises at home. The aim is to strengthen Steve's deep
stabilising muscles, easing the strain on the muscles he uses to move around.
Steve
himself has two specific goals from the treatment: to resume cycling and 10 pin
bowling. Before the accident, he regularly cycled to work, was in a company
bowling team and went to the gym three times a week. He was also around five
stone lighter.
Said
Dave, "Steve has this wonderful attitude. He's lovely to treat and is very
self-motivated."
Steve
said, "I have a lot less pain, and my stamina and endurance have definitely
increased. I believe it is realistic that I will be able to throw away my
crutches."
Only
12 weeks after the accident, he returned to Goodwood. He now carries out
official duties at motor sports events again and is keen to return to full
trackside race marshalling.
He
has his own website and has received messages of support from former Formula One
world champion Mario Andretti and motorcycle stunt ace Eddie Kidd - himself
paralysed in an accident.
Above
all, Steve refuses to be bitter. "I have never asked "why me?"
and "what if?" I have been lucky to have the support of two very good
families and lots of friends who have encouraged me to keep going," he
said.
"You
can't turn the clock back, you've just got to get on with it. Life is for
living, and I intend to make the most of it."
