Stu's story

Stu is a blind veteran whose life has been shaped by resilience and renewal. After surviving a catastrophic shipping accident at the age of 14, he went on to suffer a respiratory arrest in his 40s that almost killed him and destroyed his sight.

Finally discharged from hospital after three long years with no hope for his future, Stu has found vital support through Blind Veterans UK, saying, “I honestly don’t think I’d be here today without them." 

A catastrophe at sea

Stu was just 14 years old when he survived a maritime disaster that would shape the rest of his life. On a school trip to Greece with around 400 other pupils, he was on board a ship when it was struck by a car transporter vessel and began to sink.

“I had to jump off in complete darkness with no life jacket,” he recalls. “I wasn’t picked up by the first rescue boats, so I just had to swim to survive.”

Presumed dead after an hour, he was spotted by a fishing fleet. “I remember being dragged onto the boat, absolutely exhausted,” he says. “I’d swum a long way away from the ship.” 

A military career cut short

The trauma stayed with Stu, developing into severe post-traumatic stress disorder, which he believes later fuelled his appetite for risk and adventure.

At 17, he joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, but his military career was cut short after a serious medical reaction to CS gas during training. “I was suddenly out, with no plan,” he explains. He went on to work in IT, spent a couple of years in the police, and eventually found fulfilment in running his own building company.

Alongside work, Stu immersed himself in sport and outdoor life. Horse riding became a passion, and within three years he was competing in show jumping. 

A sudden health crisis

In his mid-40s, Stu began suffering recurring bouts of diverticulitis, eventually requiring surgery. Shortly after being discharged, he started blacking out. One collapse sent him tumbling down a staircase and through reinforced glass; another occurred while working on a roof. Despite extensive testing, doctors found no clear cause.

Then, one evening in a pub, Stu suffered a respiratory arrest. “I bought a pint, sat down - and that was it,” he says. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital, and his family were called to say goodbye. He eventually survived, but with catastrophic consequences.

Living with sight loss

When Stu woke, he was unable to speak, bedridden and blind. He spent three years in hospital. His sight loss was caused not by damage to his eyes, but by oxygen deprivation to the visual cortex of his brain. “I can sense light and colour, but there’s no detail at all. It’s like everything’s moving, shaking - like a snow globe,” he explains.

Discharged in the summer of 2024, he'd lost his home, business and independence. He had to stay at a friend's temporarily before finding a place to rent.

A second chance

Attending his first week at the charity’s Rustington Centre was daunting. “I was terrified,” Stu admits. “But after about an hour, I thought, maybe this is going to be all right.” With our support, he has rebuilt his life - learning to cook, returning to fitness and rediscovering purpose.

Stu now practises judo and Thai boxing, takes on long-distance hikes, and on the first anniversary of leaving hospital walked 57 kilometres in the South Coast Ultra, raising £7,500.

“I’ve been given a second chance,” he reflects. “So, I’m just going to keep going and see where it takes me. For the first time in a long time, I’m looking forward to what comes next.”