Five Minutes from Losing My Leg - Now I'm Helping Others with Trauma

Jake Cooper's life changed forever in 2017 when he was a passenger in a car that struck a tree and overturned on Rivelin Valley Road in Sheffield. The 21-year-old trainee electrician sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures, including to his spine, left leg, ankle, and an open fracture of his right lower leg. He was placed in an induced coma and spent seven weeks in hospital.

Cooper was told he was five minutes away from having his right leg amputated, but his mother, a nurse, intervened after testing for nerve function. Now 31, Cooper has qualified as a personal trainer and works for the NHS, helping clients around the country regain their fitness after brain injuries. He says his approach is unique because he is trained to work with brain injury survivors, focusing on avoiding overexertion and building rapport.

Cooper's mother, Michelle Cooper, admits she is still traumatised by the accident but is proud of her son's transformation and his work helping others. After the crash, Cooper spent 18 months in a wheelchair and experienced significant challenges with mobility, pain, fatigue, and cognitive function. He has not spoken to the driver of the car since the crash, but has found it in his heart to forgive him.

After the accident, Cooper was unable to continue working as an electrician. He volunteered with Rehabilitate Therapy and qualified as a personal trainer in 2025. He now helps clients with day-to-day tasks, planning, setting reminders, and mental health, in addition to gym training. Cooper has been nominated for Headway UK's Achiever of the Year award for his work with brain injury survivors.