A
man who lost his lower right leg seven years ago when he was hit by a
car has set his sights on becoming a Paralympic snowboarder.
Lewis-born
Andy Macleod had been cycling to a friend's house when he was thrown
more than 60m (196ft) into the air in the crash in Fort William.
He
required months of hospital treatment and also rehabilitation for a
brain injury.
Andy
is snowboarding with use of a prosthetic limb.
At
the time of the crash in March 2011 he was 18 and a university
student.
The
outdoor pursuits enthusiast had taken up snowboarding just months
earlier.
Andy,
who was born in Stornoway and grew up in Stirling, said: "When I
first went to university everyone was a snowboarder or a skier, and I
was so excited to get involved.
"I
picked up a snowboard in my first year and felt like a natural."
Recalling
the crash that caused him life-changing injuries, he said: "My
leg was amputated on impact with the vehicle and I don't remember
anything about the accident, that whole day or two weeks after."
The
driver of the car was later jailed for 10 months for dangerous
driving and banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.ia
Andy's
recovery has included receiving care from Dorset Orthopaedic. It has
helped him with the fitting of prosthetic limbs, including one for
use with a snowboard. Through involvement with Disability Snowsport
UK he was introduced to the GB Para Snowsport team.
Following
an evaluation by the team, he was successful in qualifying for the
home nations' academy in the sport of snowboard cross racing.
Andy
is currently in Austria taking part in a six-week training camp which
will help him prepare for competitions later this year.
His
goal is to be selected for the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
Find
words of phrases in the text that correspond to the words and
definitions given.
- To intend to do something (paragraph 1)
- To start doing an activity (paragraph 1)
- To take part in something (paragraph 2)
- Having an impact on somebody (paragraph 2)
- Exclude, prohibit (paragraph 3)
- Assessment, estimation (paragraph 3)
- Now, at present (paragraph 4)
- Objective, aim (paragraph 4)
KEY
- To set his sights on / Set his sights on
- To take up / Take up / Had taken up
- To get involved / Get involved
- Life-changing
- To ban / Ban / Banned
- Evaluation
- Currently
- Goal
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