THE dangers of tree climbing to spot fish have been highlighted after a young carp angler fell and suffered life-changing injuries and was lucky not to have been killed.
Young carp angler Sam Burrows suffered multiple internal injuries, a broken back and severed spinal cord.
It’s left him paralysed from the waist down and sadly he will probably never walk again.
Sam’s mother Sharon said: “Sam was fishing at a Norfolk syndicate lake near Norwich and fell from a 35 foot tree that has been climbed many times by lots of the anglers there.
“His occupation is a groundsman which he loves and was about to take his digger ticket.
“He’s really positive and doing well at the minute so it is small steps and a long journey,” she added.
Lowestoft, Suffolk-based carp angler Sam, 20, nearly lost his life but was saved by the amazing paramedics and A&E staff at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital where he had to have an 11 hour long operation to pin his spine back in place.
He is recovering well from his op and will be moved to a specialist spinal unit in Sheffield to rehabilitate for several months but will need further surgery in the future.
David Walker, leisure safety manager for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “This was a very tragic incident, that caused a life-changing injury.
“Falls are the fifth most common cause of accidental death among young people, and the top cause of hospital admissions, so are fairly common statistically.
“However, incidents like this are quite rare with anglers more commonly facing drowning or electrocution.”
Help carp angler Sam online
Sam’s family, girlfriend Georgie (pictured) and friends are trying to raise £10,000 to get him the help he needs, and support his rehabilitation following his spinal surgery.
A crowd-funding page has been set up to help provide essential specialist equipment and home alterations to aid Sam with his rehabilitation.
Within days nearly £6,000 was raised including a very generous donation from carper Rhys Ainsworth who paid £1,000 for Mark Pitchers’ Fox Horizon X5 rods. It then soared past the £10,000 target.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so here
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