Paralysed Durham man is going for gold
A Durham man who was paralysed in a motorbike accident last year is back in the saddle.
Andy Bell, 30, was paralysed from the chest down after a motorbike accident in May last year, but that hasn't stopped him.
Determined not to let his paralysis hold him back, he went to Bangkok for groundbreaking surgery that had the potential return some movement to his lower body.
Since then he has undertaken daily physiotherapy sessions at James Cook hospital in Middlesbrough and is making fantastic progress, regaining some movement.
As a keen sportsman before his accident, it came as no surprise that when James Cook Hospital asked Andy to represent them at the Spinal Games 2016 he signed up right away.
The Spinal Games are for people who have suffered spinal injuries in the past 12 months and encourages them to participate is team and individual sports, to help with their rehabilitation.
Andy, who is known by his friends as "Belly", sustained extensive injuries to his spine after being knocked off his motorbike by a car.
By competing in the Spinal Games he's back on a bike, except this time, it's a hand cycle.* *
Andy said: "Taking part in the hand cycling events has easily been one of the best moments I've had since my life changing accident. I think I'll be asking for a hand-cycle for Christmas this year"
But for Andy, it's not just about taking part, he's going for Gold. He's already decorating his trophy cabinet by taking home the gold medal from his swimming events on Tuesday.
He's also through to the quarter finals of the Table Tennis competition and scored a number of tries in the wheelchair rugby matches.
Andy said: "I've been playing competitive sports since I was about four years old and used to play school boy rugby, so to be able to play again really is great"