After a surfing accident, Alex Barthe faced challenges in a care home before returning to Poole to pursue his passion for lifesaving.
Poole: Alex Barthe had a tough time after a surfing accident in Argentina back in 2013. He hit his head and ended up paralyzed from the neck down. It was a life-changing moment for him.
After spending a year in a care home for the elderly, he’s finally moving back home. He’s 44 now and has been bouncing between Spain, Argentina, and the UK since his injury.
Alex is eager to get back to his job with the RNLI. He’s always loved lifesaving and can’t wait to dive back into it after his rehab in Argentina.
But it hasn’t been smooth sailing. His life flipped upside down after the accident, and he faced a lot of hurdles when he returned. He waited six weeks just to get an occupational therapy assessment to see what kind of care he could get.
In January 2024, he found out he wasn’t eligible for the help he needed. He’s now considered a complex case and requires expert care to stay safe.
Alex shared his feelings, saying, “This journey of frustration, being depressed and feeling like I’m hopeless, should I have had to go through this?”
He can move his right arm a bit, but he still needs full-time help for daily tasks, like using a laptop or staying safe when he’s out.
At one point, he was at risk of becoming homeless, so the council placed him in a care home for the elderly. Unfortunately, that place wasn’t equipped to handle his spinal cord injury.
Alex felt trapped there. He said, “I was limited to go out as I face a lot of risks by going out alone.” He had to push himself to get out, or he felt like he’d go crazy being stuck in a place meant for older folks.
He even mentioned, “I’ve seen more people passing away in the last year than in my whole life.” It’s been a tough journey, but he’s determined to keep moving forward.
