Fergus Farrell on his life-changing injury: 'I remember thinking, 'I'm no good to my wife. I'm no good to my kids.' I gave up. I had no more fight in me'

"Growing up, Fergus Farrell had tapped into the power of visualisation to improve his rugby and went on to become a high-level player, lining out for the Irish Youths team and Galwegians. Later on, he used it to start his own successful transport business. But it was in 2018, lying in a bed at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, at one of the lowest moments in his life, that the technique took on a whole new meaning."

"But it was in 2018, lying in a bed at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, at one of the lowest moments in his life, that the technique took on a whole new meaning. Fergus was left paralysed after a freak back injury sustained while lifting a heavy metal bench. Doctors had spoken to him of the faint prospect of regaining "some movement". There was no talk of him ever walking again. The prognosis, he says, was "devastating"."

Fergus Farrell used visualisation to enhance his rugby performance, reaching Irish Youths and playing for Galwegians, and later to build a successful transport business. In 2018 a freak back injury while lifting a heavy metal bench left him paralysed and confined to a hospital bed in Dublin, with doctors offering only a faint prospect of regaining "some movement" and no expectation of walking again. The medical prognosis was devastating. He experienced the end of his marriage, turned to drink, and later attempted a charitable solo Atlantic row that failed before becoming a motivational speaker.

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