Powering through physical and mental health challenges after spinal injury

In this special extended edition of Soundbites, Emma Lyons has an extended conversation with Dan Metcalfe, also known across the internet as ‘wheelsdan’.

After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2014, Dan filled his life with sports of all kinds, in particular handcycling. Leaving his job to become a full-time athlete, he also channelled his passion for sport into various challenges to raise money for charity.

In 2018, in the midst of a month-long 600 mile charity hand-cycling ride, Dan was struck from behind by a speeding car and sustained a second serious injury. It was at this time that Dan began to struggle with his mental health, with his head injury affecting his ability to handcycle and live his life as he wanted.

Friends encouraged Dan to return in particular to diving, and it was the meditative practice that came with diving which gave him a new lease on life. He now dives all over the world and holds three Guinness World Records for diving.

In this episode, Dan talks at length about his journey following both injuries and the connection between physical and mental health. He talks about what he’s learned from his active lifestyle after injury, and gives his advice about the importance of physical exercise and talking about your situation to the long-term recovery process. Dan recommends those who have sustained an injury should “adventure down every route you can, and find something you can look forward to.”

We hope you listen to this very special episode, to hear about Dan’s inspirational story.

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm