Meet Richard Hunt
Their Story
Richard Hunt had his left leg amputated above the knee after 20 unsuccessful operations following an accident while playing rugby.
At 17, I joined the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman in Radar Operation. I enjoyed the active life of the Navy and developed a passion for playing rugby.
It was from playing rugby that I first sustained a niggling knee injury. The ligaments in my knee had pulled the knee cap out of place and I was advised surgery to correct it. Unfortunately, this initial operation caused nerve damage known as ‘reflex sympathetic dystrophy’ which caused all the nerves in my leg to be hypersensitive, making the slightest touch cause me major pain and discomfort. I continued to serve with the Royal Navy, with my last posting being with the historical HMS Victory – the Royal Navy’s oldest commissioned war ship at 235 years old – where I worked in the administration department.
In the two years between my initial surgery and my discharge from the Navy, I underwent 20 operations to try and correct the damage, but to no avail.
Finally, after years of pain and unsuccessful treatments, in 1995, I made the difficult decision to have my leg amputated above the knee. It wasn’t assured that the pain would stop after having the leg amputated, but I could not see any alternative course of action. Thankfully, the amputation was a success.
When I was medically discharged from the Navy I was devastated. I had lost the only career that I had ever wanted to do and, from that moment on, I was lost and had no idea what to do next. I used to stay awake all night and sleep all day just so that I wouldn't have to talk to people. It wasn't until my leg was finally amputated and Blesma became involved, that my life began to change for the better.
It was my father who made the initial contact with Blesma. They came to my rescue soon after the operation - when I needed support the most. They helped me with a war pension, a Navy pension and all the complicated paperwork that went with it.
Richard
Once I had been through rehabilitation and learnt how to walk again on a prosthetic limb, I joined Blesma Members on a sailing trip in 1997. Having sailed with the Royal Navy before, I was no stranger to the sea but sailing with Blesma was a very special experience. It significantly boosted my confidence and made me remarkably independent. It stopped me from falling into the trap of having other people do everything for me. Blesma is an awesome organisation that has personally helped me to find myself and given me the confidence to achieve my goals.
It was after this experience that I took a job teaching Business and IT in Zhuhai in southern China , something which I admit I probably would not have had the confidence to do previously. I returned to the UK in 2007 when I retired from teaching and we live in Fareham in Hampshire.
I also rediscovered my passion for physical activity, becoming a fan of water sports including kayaking.
Please join me in saying thank you to Blesma, I owe them my recovery.
Please make a donation to Blesma today.
