Injured Marine fights back to full fitness

A WESTCOUNTRY-BASED Royal Marine who was warned he might never walk or talk again after suffering horrific injuries has made a miraculous recovery to become a personal trainer.

Marine Tom Birch, of Plymouth based 42 Commando, was in a Land Rover that plunged more than 100ft off a cliff in Helmand Province in November 2006.

Former marine Tom Birch (main picture and above left) who has learnt to walk and talk again after suffering horrific injuries in Helmand Province and is now a qualified personal trainer. Left, Tom (centre front) with members of his troop and the wreckage of his vehicle after it plunged down a cliff

Mne Birch, who cannot remember the accident, sustained multiple head and neck injuries – including three fractures to the skull – and serious internal damage.

He was given only a one in 20 chance of survival and his parents were told he may never fully recover even if he pulled through.

However, the courageous 21-year-old, who joined the Royal Marines in 2005, is now back on his feet and has completed his training as a fitness instructor.

"I was in a complete mess," said the former Marine, who now lives in Heanor, Derbyshire. "I couldn't even hold my head up on my own and speech was non-existent.

"The future was bleak, but if I can bounce back then others can. I guess it's my Marine fighting spirit and I hope this shows there can be a light at the end of the tunnel."

Mne Birch had to be resuscitated at the scene by comrades and was taken to the field hospital at Camp Bastion for treatment before being transferred to Oman.

His condition was so serious that the plane bringing him back to Britain was forced to fly at less than 10,000ft. Once home, he received specialist treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Mne Birch has now made a remarkable recovery, after a long rehabilitation, and collected a number of awards on the way.

In November he was named as national student of the year after finishing his personal trainer courses.

His mother Gail said: "His recovery has been nothing short of astonishing."

Mne Birch also volunteers for the brain injuries charity Headway, which named him "achiever of the year" at its annual awards.

Peter McCabe, chief executive of Headway, said: "Tom is an incredible young man.

"It must take an extraordinary amount of emotional and physical strength to rebuild one's life from scratch – particularly when you were so young, fit and active when everything changed.

"The way in which he has done so, however, is nothing short of inspirational. Throughout his entire journey to recovery, he has tried to help others by raising the public's awareness of brain injury and developing the fitness programme at Headway."