If you're feeling a bit down today, then this lad's amazing story will definitely make you feel 100 times better.
Henry Fraser's life changed forever in 2009 when he was on a lads' holiday to celebrate the end of his AS exams. Messing around on the beach with his mates, Henry ran into the sea and dived forward, but, unfortunately where he dived wasn't deep like he thought and he went straight into a sandbank. Henry was left face-down, unable to move and slowly drowning. His friends spotted something was up and quickly came to the rescue, pulling him out the water and calling an ambulance.
He told LADbible: "I was airlifted to a hospital in Lisbon, where I spent the next two and a half weeks. An X-ray showed that I'd almost completely popped out one of my vertebrae so doctors placed a clamp on my head with weights attached to try and stretch my neck to allow the vertebrae to go back in. It didn't work." While there, Henry also underwent several operations, picked up MSRA and was fitted with a pacemaker. All this at just 17.
Henry's motto is 'Accept and Adapt' and that totally sums up his attitude and how he's lived his life since the accident. Since then he's refused to mope or feel sorry for himself and instead he's carving out a pretty awesome career as a mouth-painter. And his paintings are shit hot. Check them out.
Credit: Henry Fraser
Credit: Henry Fraser
Credit: Henry Fraser
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"I always liked to draw and paint, and I remember seeing these amazing paintings on the walls of the hospital ward I was staying on, and they were mouth-paintings. I always loved to draw and paint before my accident, but I was just far too lazy at that point to give mouth-painting a try.
"And then, in January last year, I was laid up in bed. I was pretty bored and was just messing around on my iPad - using a stylus, in my mouth, to type on my iPad - and I downloaded a really basic drawing app and gave it a go. After a few months of using my iPad I swapped to pencils and then in May last year I tried paints out. I'm a much better artist now than when I was using my hands.
"I had my first exhibition in July this year and I was really nervous no one would turn up - but we had people waiting to come in before we'd even opened the doors. It was just a one-day exhibition but over 800 people turned up. I was totally overwhelmed, but in a really good way."
Henry has done a number of celebrity portraits and received some top feedback from them. Rory McIlroy and Roger Federer have both said Henry's portraits of them are 'amazing', with Jonny Wilkinson saying his was 'phenomenal'. Oh yeah, and Usain Bolt called his portrait 'brilliant'. Not bad.
I think we're all guilty of moaning a bit too much about shit that doesn't matter, I know I am... 'my train's late again', 'this hangover is going to actually kill me', 'I've spent all my wages on shots and now I've got £40 that has to last three weeks'. But after all he's been through, does Henry feel sorry for himself and mope around? Does he fuck.
He told me: "It's just about learning to appreciate the little things. I could get upset over all the things I can't do, or I can just be grateful for all the good things in my life. I've got an amazing family and friends and I've got my art. I've got a job I love. There's lots I can be grateful for."
Henry giving a motivational talk alongside David Beckham. Credit: Henry Fraser
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And, because painting, hanging around with celebrities and giving talks up and down the country isn't enough, Henry has a book coming out, due to hit the shelves in May 2017.
Amazing lad.
To see more of Henry's work or to check out what else he's been up to, you can go his website, Instagram, Facebook page or check him out on Twitter.
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Featured image credit: Henry Fraser
Featured Image Credit:
