In 2009, while on patrol in Afghanistan, Royal Marine Toby Gutteridge was struck by a bullet to his neck, resulting in him being flown back to the UK badly wounded and on the brink of death.
Although Toby’s injuries have left him paralysed from the neck down, he considers himself lucky to be alive as his chances of survival were slim. Doctors felt that if Toby did survive he would be left with permanent brain damage as a result.
Despite the challenges Toby has been faced with, he is focussing on his future and one where he is in charge of his own destiny. He’s about to complete his Access to HE Humanities course at Bournemouth & Poole College, and go on to study Business at university. Toby says that thanks to his studies at the college he can now see opportunities for himself, and has discovered talents he never knew he had.
Toby hopes to start a business with the aim to fund a new charity ‘The Bravery Organisation’ to help others who are facing similar challenges in life. He aims to make the charity a commercial success by creating merchandise with a bravery theme and is hoping for financial backing from commercial enterprises. Any profit made through the scheme will go directly to the charity.
Toby said “ It is in the early planning stages as yet but during my nine months at the college, I discovered that I had a knack for business and commercial ideas and this has inspired me to try and explore these avenues. “
“I've really enjoyed the college experience. I've learned that it is so important to ‘keep on keeping on’ in the face of extreme adversity and I hope that my achievement, and what it might lead to, will be an example to others. “
Toby is full of praise for the Bournemouth & Poole College staff who have worked with him to provide support that enabled him to be as independent as possible. The Learning Support team were singled out for praise and Toby said that without the support provided by them he wouldn’t have completed his course.
Sharon Foster, Team Leader for Medical, Physical & Sensory support said “We have many students coming to college with a range of support needs. Each student’s needs are individual so we work with them and the resources we have to ensure the student is able to have the same opportunities as every other. It was a learning curve for the Learning Support team in providing the correct level of support for Toby, and we are so glad that we were able to support Toby to achieve.”
