After a devastating motorcycle accident left him permanently
disabled, a former mechanic has started a successful new career as a
bodybuilder. See photos after the cut
Jay Vincent broke his back, lost his right leg and
suffered debilitating injuries to his right arm and shoulder after
smashing his motorbike into a telegraph pole at 90mph.
Just 17 at
the time, he spent three weeks in a coma and a further three months in
intensive care, leaving the hospital six months later weak and weighing
only seven stone.
“When I came out of the coma I was in a bad
way” said Jay. “I had a fractured spine, my arm was broken in three
places, I had a shattered collarbone, elbow, wrist, and pelvis, and four
broken ribs puncturing both lungs.
“My right leg had been torn off above the knee, and I had ripped the
nerves out controlling most of my right arm, making it almost useless.
“I felt sickened and didn’t know how I could face life with half of my body missing or not functioning.”
But
lying in his hospital bed, Jay resolved not to let his injuries get the
better of him and decided to focus on the positives in his situation.
Having always been fit and active before, he vowed to do everything he could to build his strength back up.
“I was determined to get back on track and to get as fit and as
strong as I could. As soon as I got my artificial leg I went back to
work as a mechanic and hit the gym.”
Unable to exercise the
damaged right side of his body he focused on his left, defying the
advice of his doctors to train hard and change his diet.
Fired up by his newfound sense of purpose, Jay gave up junk
food and adopted a high protein diet purchased from a sports nutrition
website Muscle Food .
“I could feel myself getting stronger and the gains spurred me on to train even harder,” he says.
Now seven years on, Jay is in the best shape of his life and has packed on muscle to double his bodyweight to 14 stone.
Fitness has become such a central focus that two years ago he left
his job as a mechanic and retrained as a personal trainer, to devote
himself to his passion full time.
Jay’s girlfriend Gemma Johnson
also plans to become a personal trainer so that the couple, who first
bonded over their love of exercise, can work together.
The pair, from Chester, regularly compete in challenges together and Gemma also shares Jay’s interest in bodybuilding.
As
Jay says: “Now Gemma and I train together all the time and we have even
started taking part in contests together, both winning awards and being
recognised for our efforts.”
His bodybuilding success is testament Jay’s determination and
resilience, and shows just how far he’s come since his terrible accident
in 2009.
“I thought my life was over but the truth was it was
only just beginning. Thanks to the support of friends and family and my
love of the gym I have turned it all around and now I’m in the best
shape of my entire life. I feel great.”
Reflecting on his
accomplishments, Jay says: “I love life and I hope my story shows that
everyone can achieve a great level of fitness, no matter what the
obstacles might be.”
Motorcylist who broke his back, lost his right leg turns bodybuilder
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