James Murphy, a former engineer for TfL, says the past two years have been ‘seriously challenging’

AN avid Islington cyclist has reflected on the “dreadful and devastating” impact of an accident that changed his life for ever, after his friends reached a fundraising milestone in his honour.

James “Gino” Murphy was enjoying a long bike ride with Islington Cycling Club (ICC) members in 2024 when his “life changed in an instant” after he came off his bike and hit the kerb head first.

Mr Murphy, a former engineer for Transport for London, said he had “no knowledge or memory” of what happened, but awoke in the Royal Free Hospital requiring urgent surgery. From then on, he has been permanently paralysed from the shoulders down and uses a wheelchair.

“I’m absolutely clueless as to what happened. I blacked out. Which is irritating, but on the other hand it’s probably better not to know,” he told the Tribune.

The last two years have been “seriously challenging” for Mr Murphy, his family, and friends. He has had to employ two full-time carers to assist with day-to-day tasks as well as making huge adjustments to his family life.

“I think most people might conceptually understand what ‘life-changing’ might mean, but they won’t ever really understand it properly.

“To go from being able to do everything completely independently, to being entirely dependable on someone else, even for just doing things like scratching your ear, is totally dreadful.

Mr Murphy’s friends have reached a fundraising milestone for Spinal Research following his accident

“It’s been mentally and physically draining. I’ve never felt suicidal or anything, but there have been times I’ve wanted to just get off the planet, I’ve had enough. It’s brought into question what my purpose even is.”

Mr Murphy said that he is still able to meet with friends at the pub, and has stayed in close contact with the other members of ICC.

“My friends from the ICC have been immensely supportive, I’m eternally grateful to them,” he added.

Since 2024, club members have pooled together in fundraising efforts to support Spinal Research and have now raised £20,000 for the research organisation – money accumulated by cycling from London to Lisbon, hosting comedy nights, and a £2,000 donation from law firm Osbornes Law to hit the magic number.

Mr Murphy said: “I am delighted that we have succeeded in meeting our target of raising £20,000 for vital research into curing paralysis. For those of us whose lives have been devastated by the abominable impacts of spinal cord injury this gives hope that there may be a way to claim back some autonomy and independence.”

David Mason, his friend and fellow ICC cyclist who witnessed the accident, told the Tribune: “I’m still shocked by how my friend’s life was transformed in an instant.

“Gino’s awful accident shows why every cyclist should care about research into repairing spinal injuries, and it’s been heartwarming to see how his friends and fellow club members have stepped up to raise so much money in his name.”

Mr Murphy was enjoying a long ride in 2024 when he came off his bike and hit the kerb headfirst

He added: “I really admire him because the accident really has been life-changing for him and his family, yet he has really managed to keep a positive attitude.”

Two years on, Mr Murphy said he has been trying to find positive angles on the incident and its life-altering outcome. He has been engaging with Buddhist teachings on suffering as well as delving into his own spinal cord injury research and attending peer support groups.

He added: “There has been some good as well. I have learnt so much about myself and I’m more emotionally in touch with myself than I’ve ever been.

“And my wife has just been incredibly supportive, by my side the entire time. Thanking her is not enough, she has been a rock.

“I’ve been leaning on Buddhist philosophy which has helped me try and think about things differently.

“It’s main focus is that life is about suffering, and how do you deal with it? Can you turn something that’s so bad into something that’s positive?

“So I use it when I feel I’m going down a negative, a sort of negative hole, as it were, rely on it to get me into a positive space.”

According to Spinal Research, every two hours somebody in the UK is paralysed from a serious spinal cord injury. Approximately eight out of every 10 sporting spinal cord injuries are as a result of cycling.

Mr Murphy said one of his main priorities now is to communicate the devastating impact these injuries can have, and inspire awareness on the “arduous, difficult life of a spinal injury”.

Sam Collard, head of cycling accident claims at Osbornes Law, said: “We were moved by Gino’s story and are delighted to have helped Islington Cycling Club reach its fundraising target for Spinal Research.

“We see too many people whose lives have been changed by cycling injuries, and research into spinal cord repair is crucial in giving people hope for the future.”