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A 13-year-old swimmer is competing again after nearly losing his arm following a trampoline accident.
But while he's been left with a bad scar, Gravesend lad Harrison Martin has a useful cover story for it – "I tell the girls I had to fight off a shark", he says.
The Gravesend and Northfleet Swimming Club (GNSC) member collided with another child while at a trampoline park in March last year. And while Harrison knew he had broken his arm straight away, neither he nor his parents knew how serious the injury was until doctors at Darent Valley Hospital said he would need specialist surgery at King's College Hospital.
Now raising money for King's College, Harrison from The Rise, in Gravesend, recalled on his JustGiving Page: "It was explained that I had no pulse in my left arm, this was due to my humerus bone in my upper arm completely snapped and also crushed my arteries which resulted in no blood flow.
"I was taken down to surgery immediately, three hours later the surgeons spoke to my dad and mum to say they had done everything possible, but was unsuccessful and they were told that time was of the essence as I only had 6-7 hours to save my arm from the time the artery was crushed.
"I was blue-lighted to King's College Hospital where I was put under the care of two of the most amazing specialists (orthopaedic and vascular surgeons); while one was working on my arteries, the other was fixing my bone.
"My parents were told there was a very high chance that I could lose my arm due to the time taken before my second surgery."
Thankfully, the operation was a success, although doctors said Harrison would not be able to swim competitively for at least 12 to 18 months.
But the Thamesview School pupil proved everyone wrong and four months later swam a personal best time for breaststroke in his first race back.
"My club coaches at GNSC we’re brilliant with me, and in their own time helped me get back into the water," said Harrison.
Dad Anthony said one of the specialist surgeons, Mr Andrews, had been called in from his home where he had himself been recovering from a fractured ankle.
"We were in the waiting room and he came in wearing a supportive boot, " he said. "They'd called him in because of the damage. He said 'I've just put my kids to bed and we're going to look after your son now.'
"He was unbelievable. When I talk about what they did, it just gives me goosebumps. We honestly thought he was going to lose his arm."
And as unbelievable as their work was, the surgeons themselves were left in disbelief over Harrison's progress.
"When we had the next meeting and saw the surgeon, he couldn't believe it," he said. "He said he shouldn't have been able to swim like that."
Anthony said much of that progress was down to the coaches at his club, adding: "His coach Mike Walsh gave him private lessons for no charge. He was fantastic. He needed intense physio on his arm."
Although coronavirus threatened to put the brakes on Harrison's progress, he was able to start swimming outdoors at St Andrew's Lakes near Halling.
That led to the idea of a charity swim challenge, and Harrison will attempt his first outdoor race at Hever Castle on September 26.
Having quickly beat his initial target of £1,000, he is now hoping to raise £4,000.
Click here to donate.
