Swimming helps to restore sense of normality for Galway man left in a wheelchair after fall

Swimming is a therapeutic sport for many – but for one Galway man, being in the water is more than that; it’s empowering.

Sam Fleming is 36 years old and suffered a brain injury after falling off his bicycle close to his home in Kinvara when he was 20 years of age.

The severe head injury he obtained from this accident has resulted in Sam becoming a strong advocator for cyclists to wear helmets – something he wasn’t doing on the day of his accident.

Sam’s injury has had a monumental effect on his life. He is unable to walk and has been wheelchair-dependant since his fall. Several other brain functions have also been affected by the accident.

His brain injury “has screwed life up big time,” he said. After the accident, he lost his independence and now requires assistance for day-to-day living; “a wife would be good,” he joked.

While a wife would surely be a welcome addition to Sam’s life, it’s his family and friends who have helped him through tough times and stuck by him so far.

Following his accident, Sam has joined the Octopus Swimming Club in Kilcornan and attends pool sessions every Monday evening.

It was at these sessions that he got to know John Griffin who has been working with Sam since his accident.

“It was through [John] that I joined the club around five years ago and I’ve been a constant feature since then,” said his son, Dualta Griffin.

The Octopus Swimming Club was established by Mary Arrigan Langan in October of 1981. Its aim is to provide a facility where people who have a physical disability can get in the water and enjoy the benefits that it brings.

The club uses the Halliwick concept, which was designed to teach people with a physical disability to swim, helping them to become more independent in the water.

It was developed in England in the 1940s by a man called James McMillan, an engineer in fluidmechanics.

Mr McMillan’s main aims when developing this concept were participation and independence. Willingness to lose balance and knowing how to regain that balance and stand up again are core elements.

Halliwick is a structured programme that teaches participants to be happy in the water, helping them to gain some confidence and perhaps learn new skills.

The benefits are enormous, allowing freedom of movement in the water, giving participants a sense of independence while also giving them all the benefits of being active and partaking in a sports activity.

For Sam, the activity has given him the “feel good factor”. He has made many new friends along the way, but most importantly, he has started to walk in the water completely unaided.

“I feel I’ve benefited greatly from the Halliwick swimming – [I’m] more confident in the water. I can take a few steps unaided and that’s a great feeling for me,” Sam explained.

“It’s inspiring to see the others progressing as well. If it weren’t for Mary Arrigan, the organiser, and all the volunteers, people like me would have very little chance of ever being in the water,” he added.

Participants at the club experience a huge sense of empowerment when in the water. The activity boosts the cardiovascular system, helps swimmers control their balance, breathing and lung capacity while also strengthening the musculoskeletal structure.

Furthermore, once a person masters the art of swimming, there is no limit to the number of new activities they can undertake, from sailing and canoeing to water-skiing, scuba-diving and snorkelling.

The activity is also beneficial to the volunteers who get a huge sense of satisfaction from helping another person reach their full potential, while also benefiting their own lives.

“My time at this club has been very special to me. Spending time with Sam and the friends I have made, the craic I have had and the skills I have developed during the time at the club so far have been very special to me,” said Dualta Griffin who has recently started studying Physiotherapy in Limerick, largely thanks to his experience with the Octopus Swimming Club.

“I am constantly amazed by people’s progress in the water and have been lucky to see someone, who wouldn’t let go of the railing when they arrived, start swimming a basic stroke whilst completely submersing their head.

“I believe that everyone involved gets a lot from being part of the club and part of this is due to their determination to improve their skills in the water whilst enjoying their time there,” he added.

Mr Griffin stressed the importance of helping people to develop skills in the water and said this has been very rewarding for him, resulting in a desire to work professionally in this area.

“I am now studying Physiotherapy in UL and I have the people in the club to thank for giving me the belief in myself and passion to pursue this career path and I look forward to spending time there again during my holidays,” he said.

If you are interested in finding out more about the club, contact Breda Ansboro on 086 358 9365 or visit www.octopusswimmingclub.com. You can also like the Octupus Swimming Club on Facebook.