Meet Bruce — a truly special person. He’s never happier than when halfway up a rock face, running trails, or embracing a life filled full of adventure. His passion for the outdoors blends seamlessly with his love for storytelling, leading to a blossoming career as a researcher with the BBC Natural History Unit. This path has taken him all over the globe, capturing powerful and meaningful wildlife stories. He’s kind, caring and deeply loyal, he’s the type of person who you can always rely on.

In July 2024, Bruce’s life was forever changed after a tragic climbing accident in Avon Gorge. Despite wearing a helmet, a 30-foot fall left him with a severe traumatic brain injury. Thanks to the quick-thinking actions of his climbing partners and the incredible response from Bristol’s emergency services, Bruce was rushed to hospital, fighting for his life. Bruce spent four weeks in ICU (17 days of which in a coma) and a total of 11 weeks at Southmead Hospital, enduring multiple surgeries — including the placement of a VP shunt to relieve pressure caused by hydrocephalus. It was a long and challenging road just to reach medical stability.

On 2nd October 2024, he was admitted to the Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre (FBIRC), where he began receiving the specialist rehabilitation care he needed. As an inpatient at FBRIC there were encouraging signs early on, he continued to make steady progress and within a couple of months he was feeding himself, was able to sit up on the edge of his bed and from his wheelchair he could kick and throw a ball. Throughout this period Bruce remained determined and his sense of humour was ever present, he would often be laughing at jokes before even his “slower” friends could catch on! However at the time of his discharge in June 2025 he was still unable to speak, was dependent upon a wheelchair to get around and one to one support for all activities of daily life.

Since the summer of 2025 Bruce has been living with his parents and now, as an outpatient, benefits from ongoing multidisciplinary rehabilitation support from the Head Injury Therapy Unit (HITU) Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service. Bruce continued to make progress albeit slowly but in December 2025 he made a significant step forward when for the first time since his accident he began to speak. And he followed this in the New Year with his first tentative steps out of the wheelchair! Your support is

Why we need your continued help

Bruce is still in the early stages of his recovery and during the all important first two years post accident ongoing therapy is essential as he works to rebuild his strength, mobility and ability to communicate. But brain injury survivors like Bruce frequently continue to recover, albeit perhaps more slowly, for many years after this initial ‘window’. So planning for 5 and perhaps even 10 years is prudent.

The fundraiser started in early April 2025 and the support for that first effort was astonishing and far exceeded our original and revised targets - thank you.

Guided by the NHS therapy team we identified additional private services and/or equipment to complement and enhance their work in order to give Bruce the best possible chance at sustaining his progress over the next 5 years and if necessary beyond. Bruce is now working regularly with therapists from Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre as well as with his NHS team and other specialist providers.

What your donation is helping to support:

Bruce deserves the chance to reclaim the life he loved — a life filled with outdoor adventures and the joy of living fully. To help him reach that goal, we are asking for your generous support to fund the expensive ongoing therapy and treatment he so desperately needs. Every donation, no matter how small, will directly contribute to giving him the chance to reclaim his independence and rebuild his life.

Your kindness will mean the world to Bruce and his friends and family, giving them hope and strength to continue on this journey. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support.