Man's leg amputated after injury in football match

[Webbo]

A 25-year-old man who had his leg amputated after an injury suffered in a football match is now hoping to run a half-marathon.

Adam Varley, from Thurmaston, landed awkwardly after a tackle in a Sunday league game in 2008 and snapped his right tibia, fibula and ankle.

 

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   Adam Varley is learning to walk again using a prosthetic limb

In July, after five years of failed operations, Adam was told his leg may never be saved and he made the difficult decision to have it amputated.

For the past few weeks, he has been learning to walk again with a prosthetic limb and has now set his sights on a greater challenge.

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He hopes to raise £5,000 for a specialist prosthetic blade which will allow him to compete in the Great North Run next year.

Adam said: "It will be great to be back to doing something active. It won't be easy, but once I get my running blade it will be awesome to get fit again."

At first, Adam did not think the injury, suffered while playing for Syston Midland FC, was so serious.

He said: "It didn't hurt at first, but by the time I got to the hospital I was in agony."

Adam, who used to play football six times a week, was in hospital for two weeks.

Pins were inserted through his lower leg and then held in place by an exterior frame.

However, the bone did not heal as expected, so doctors tried something else.

"They removed my knee cap and drilled down into the leg bone from the top," said Adam.

"Then they inserted a metal rod which was supposed to act like bone."

At first, Adam was pleased with the result and said it was the longest-lasting treatment he had received.

But the metal rod eventually bent and then snapped, leaving him back where he started.

Three more operations followed before Adam was faced with the most difficult decision of his life in May.

He said: "The surgeon gave me a choice. He said I could go back to the first operation and have the pins, or I could go for a lower leg amputation. It took me about eight weeks to make a decision, but I went for the amputation in the end because I didn't want my daughter to grow up seeing me struggle with pins and braces."

The British Gas apprentice is planning on to take part in the Great North Run with his dad next September.

But he needs to raise £5,000 to pay for a prosthetic blade – like the ones worn by Paralympic runners – as they are not provided on the NHS.

He is planning a series of events to help pay for it, starting with a social evening at the Brookside Club, Syston, on Saturday, October 26. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for under- 16s.

His mum Elizabeth said: "Since having his operation he has been an inspiration to us all, but if Adam is to achieve this goal he needs a running prosthetic, which costs about £5,000.

"It's a big target, but we really want to make this happen for him, so we're hoping people will come along."

Adam is setting up a fund-raising account on the justgiving website. For information about donating, call 0755 426 7623.

 

I know this lad's father and they are hoping Steve Walsh and the Birch will attend the fundraiser. Please support it if you can.

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-s-leg-amputated-injury-football-match/story-19867972-detail/story.html

 

[purpleronnie]

What a brave bloke.

[cambridgefox]

Good luck to the fella.Real fighting spirit that not many could handle.Hope he achieves all his goals.

[AKCJ]

Snapped his tibia, fibula and ankle.

 

****. That.

[Webbo]

Snapped his tibia, fibula and ankle.

 

****. That.

It wasn't the actual tackle that broke his leg either. He jumped over the tackle and landed funny.

[Parafox]

Good luck to the fella.Real fighting spirit that not many could handle.Hope he achieves all his goals.

 

There's no need for that!!!!!

[cambridgefox]

There's no need for that!!!!!

oh no,that could have been phrased better.sorry.