Andrew Simister from North Yorkshire is looking for fellow padel-playing amputees, having taken up the sport after losing his leg in a horrific accident last year.
Andrew, 58, was parked on his motorbike in a layby on the A64 when he was struck from behind by an out-of-control pick-up truck. He almost died and his right leg had to be amputated.
Having been a keen sportsman all his life, he was determined that his sudden disability would not prevent him from keeping fit. He started swimming and hired a personal trainer who took him through workouts whilst in his wheelchair.
One day, his son and a few friends suggested he try padel. Andrew travelled from his home in the village of Tockwith near York to Surge Padel at Harrogate, where he had a lesson with coach and GB international Nicky Horn.
“That session with Nicky was the first time I’d played padel and I really enjoyed it,” he tells The Padel Paper. “It’s great to know there’s something out there that I can do.
“I want to try and keep doing normal things. Anything to keep me fit mentally as well as physically.”
Andrew is now keen to find another amputee or player with restricted mobility to play with. “I don’t know any other amputee who play it and I couldn’t play with three other able-bodied players, as it wouldn’t be fair,” he says.
Previously, Andrew played squash and tennis, coached football, ran a couple of marathons and during lockdown took part in an Insanity fitness challenge, doing 63 high-intensity workouts in consecutive days.
Although that would be beyond his physical capabilities now, he still wants to push himself as much as possible.
“I can walk well, go sideways and backwards, but I can’t really run around the court,” he says. “My leg stump is still reducing in size, so in three or four months when it’s reached its proper size and shape, I’ll look at getting a running blade fitted.”
Do you know an amputee or mobility-impaired padel player who would be keen for a hit with Andrew? Let us know! info@thepadelpaper.com
