'Life is so much better than I could have hoped'

SIXTH former Alan Nowicki says life has turned out so much better than he could have hoped after being paralysed from the waist down in a freak accident.

He was just 15, with dreams of becoming an RAF pilot, when his spinal cord was crushed in a fall from a pull-up exercise bar.

Today the 17-year-old, who takes his A-levels this summer, is applying to study aerospace engineering at university and has ambitions to design aircraft one day.

He has passed his driving test and, having taken a flight in a glider, is now having lessons and hopes to gain his gliding licence.

Studying maths, physics and chemistry at RGS, he said: “It feels really good knowing that the things I thought weren’t possible after the accident still are in some way and it has given me a new perspective on things.

“I never thought that things would be as good as they are.

"I have come to terms with everything, I am not mad or angry or anything, I have accepted it and moved on.”

Not in any pain, he juggles three hours of physiotherapy exercises a day, six times a week, with his A-level studies and travels to school in his specially adapted car.

His mother Kamila said: “To us, progress is him being healthy, fit, independent, doing his schoolwork, meeting his friends and going to the gym.

“He is not stuck at home and not bed bound. That is progress."

Alan remains passionate about flying, and while on work experience at the Yorkshire Gliding Club near Thirsk, took a flight in a glider.

“It is difficult to describe, it is like being in a plane, but peaceful. I have full control of the stick and the brakes, but the instructor has to control the rudder because it is operated by pedal."

Access to a specially adapted glider would allow him to fly solo.

A crowdfunding campaign enabled Alan to have treatment overseas. He had stem cell therapy in Thailand, a procedure not available on the NHS. Having travelled to Poland and Thailand for the latest treatment, he is thankfully not in pain, says his mother.

Kamila, who is Polish, said: “I like to think that every parent would do the same for their kid, if something happens, you search high and low and try everything to help them to get better.

“I never thought we would be here in this place, everything was just daunting, very negative and we just tried to keep our heads above the water and not drown.”

His mother added: “He’ll go out there into the world and spread his wings, get that gliding licence, get that degree under his belt, and go out there do what he wants to do and be healthy, independent and pain-free.”