A CARLISLE dad who was paralysed from the chest down in a freak accident is making remarkable progress after being helped by a charity.

The city’s veteran fundraiser Geoff Brown has over the years raised thousands of pounds for a variety of good causes - and this time he set his sights on helping Matty Thicke in his recovery by organising swimming lessons at the pool on James Street.

“I knew I could help this man,” explained Geoff.

“He’s an ex-soldier so he’s very driven and focused.

“I wanted to make this possible for him.

“When I first saw him get in the pool compared to now it’s no comparison.”

Matty, injured after falling from a tree and landing on his head, is having lessons three-days-a-week for six months.

After that Geoff said he would look to re-evaluate this and try to organise another six months of lessons.

On the afternoon of July 6, 2019, Matty, from Stanwix in Carlisle, was walking with his wife, their young sons Daniel and Jack, two family friends and their two daughters.

During his fall, he fractured the C6 vertebra in his neck.

He was rushed to hospital in Newcastle for an operation and has also received treatment at Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital.

Matty is exceptionally pleased with how his recovery is going since starting the swimming lessons.

He said: “It’s going really well. It’s quite hard because my legs are just a dangling dead weight behind me but it’s good for me.

“I’ve never been able to float so well; it’s great.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and all of the help.

“It’s been great for my mental wellbeing too.

“I know each week I have something to look forward to.”

Matty initially wore a life jacket during his swimming sessions, but quickly moved on to using a floats and he now swims about in the pool freely.

His wife, Emma has noticed a huge difference in his recovery.

She said: “It’s a massive help for him.

“It gives him the freedom he needs.

“He’s doing really well and he’s very determined.

“Each week he improves and last week he said he could feel it in his back, but in a good way.

“When Geoff first approached us we were really excited.

“The feeling of being in the water for Matty is amazing.”

Matty is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan and since 2013 has worked at Carlisle’s Pirelli factory.

He and his family are taking his recovery carefully, while not ruling out the possibility that he might one day walk again.

Clark Morton, pool manager, is delighted he has been able to help Matty in some way.

“Geoff approached us and said about Matty and his accident and that he’d lost the use of his legs.

“Swimming is accessible for Matty and we said what we had available and the use of an experienced teacher.

“We wanted to help this guy.

“We’re not doing it to make money; we’re doing it to help.”