A FORMER biker was on the winning team of a flagship sporting event just months after being paralysed in a horrific accident.

Jack Sims, 24, was training to compete in a mountain biking competition in Alpe Du Huez in the French Alps when he overshot a jump and fell, causing damage to his spinal cord. He was paralysed in the accident, but just 10 months on he competed in the WheelPower 2017 Inter Spinal Unit Games.

Jack, from Blandford, won second place in the Paraplegic Division Shooting Competition and his spinal unit team from Salisbury won the overall games and then team spirit award.

Jack's rehabilitation experience was full of ups and downs. He said: “For me, rehab was very up and down. Mentally I was fine. But I struggled medically and I had quite a lot issues. Sport, and things like the games got me through it, to be honest.

“I don’t know exactly what route I’m going to take, that’s the reason for participating in the Inter Spinal Unit Games. I got to try everything out and see what’s on offer. It was a really great opportunity to meet other people who have gone through what I have gone through.”

Jack was delighted to be on the winning team. He added: “This team has been amazing, a few of us were friends through rehab, and a few I only met this week, we totally gelled. To be honest, it’s been such an experience."

More than 90 people from spinal injury centre across the UK competed in the games, which were held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.

Organisers said the event is all about showing that life does not have to stop after spinal injury and giving people a taste for sport after many months in spinal units.

Chris Turner, national sports director at WheelPower, said: “We know that taking part in sport and physical activity enhances disabled people's quality of life, giving them confidence, improving their wellbeing and helping to connect them to other people. The stories captured from the participants during the games embodies this fully and provides a starting platform for people to live and enjoy an active lifestyle.

“Our vision is to help transform lives through sport and this event does exactly that, by providing opportunities to introduce disabled people to sport and supporting them to find an activity that they are passionate about and enjoy.”