A Sussex man who experienced life changing injuries after falling 10 metres from Brighton seafront has been reunited with the University Hospitals Sussex clinicians who provided him with ‘lifesaving’ treatment and supported his early recovery.
Noah Rees was just 18 when he fell in May 2019, resulting in a fractured skull and spine, brain injuries and damage to both lungs. He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital, part of UHSussex, for lifesaving treatment. Noah was then in a coma for around six weeks in intensive care before being transferred to the neurosurgery team to receive support that aided his early recovery.
Seven years on, Noah has made huge strides in his recovery. Having regained his ability to walk, talk and eat, Noah has gone on to pursue several passions, is actively engaged in competitive frame running, and is now training to qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
This week, he returned to Royal Sussex County Hospital to meet the Hospital Director, Stephen Mardlin, and clinicians from the neurosurgery and critical care teams who cared for him.
Noah said: “It was amazing to meet some of the clinicians who saved my life and cared for me when I needed it most. I’ve wanted to thank them properly for everything they did for me, although I don’t think I could ever thank them enough. By the end of the visit, I had to say I’d better go before I started crying – it was a really lovely, life affirming and also an emotional moment.”
Noah was given a tour of several parts of the hospital, including critical care, neurosurgery, the sanctuary prayer and reflection space and the hospital’s helipad.
Junior Sister on the Neurosurgery ward, Claire Frampton, who met with Noah said: “It was so special to see Noah again and to see just how far he has come since we cared for him all those years ago.
“When Noah came to us, he was still seriously unwell and unable to speak, but we felt he was trying to communicate with us. Even at such a difficult point in his recovery, we could see his personality coming through and I remember his amazing sense of humour beginning to show.
“What also really stood out was his determination to recover. To see him back here seven years later, having regained so much of his independence and now competing in sport and working towards such an ambitious goal, is wonderful.”
While receiving care on the neurosurgery ward, Noah made significant first steps in his recovery, including being able to start eating again, before leaving Brighton for further specialist rehabilitation in Putney. And after lots of hard work, training and rehabilitation over the months and years since, Noah now competes in frame running for Lewes Athletic Club and has set his sights on the Paralympics.
Noah said: “As a result of all the work I’ve put into my recovery I’ve been able to get back into sport and start training in frame running. That has been incredibly liberating for me. Having that independence and something I can work towards means a huge amount.
“I know I’ve still got a lot of work to do to get to the Paralympics, but it’s great to have something to aim for. I think everyone needs something they’re passionate about to work towards in life – and that’s what sport has become for me.”
Noah has made huge progress in frame running. After shaving around 15 seconds off his personal best in his first year of training, then improving by another five seconds in years two and three, Noah now needs to cut just 2.5 seconds from his personal best to put him in contention for the Paralympics in 2028.
Noah continues to highlight his recovery and positive spirit through his social media channels: Instagram and TikTok: @come_on_noah.