Student returns to football team as coach after spinal cord injury

A student who was forced to stop playing American football after suffering a spinal cord injury on the field has returned to his team as a coach.

Archie Wills-Johnson, who studies at the University of Bristol, had a section of cartilage removed from his neck and replaced with titanium following the serious injury in December 2022.

He started American football when he became a biology student in 2021 and was playing a game against Southampton as a linebacker for his team Bristol Barracuda at the time.

During the match, Mr Wills-Johnson felt a “big electric shock” on his right arm, which turned out to be a herniated disc.

The pupil, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, had previously played up to 20 hours of contact sport a week but remained recovering from surgery suffering chronic pain.

He has worked with NHS doctors as well as support services at the University of Bristol and has now returned to Bristol Barracuda as a coach.

“I still have symptoms now and the doctors are not sure if I will ever fully recover,” Mr Wills-Johnson said.

“I’m still not sure what caused it. I had some low-level nerve pain in my shoulder before the electric shock, so it was probably wear and tear followed by a sudden shock, but it’s hard to pinpoint.”

His role at the club now involves helping the 60-strong squad with techniques as well as video analysis and behind-the-scenes management.

Mr Wills-Johnson was elected vice-chairman of the Bristol Barracuda and recently won an award from the University of Bristol for his resilience.

Celeste Waller-Carr, awards manager for the Bristol Plus Awards, said: “We have been truly inspired by Archie and his determination to continue to give back to the club he loves.”