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‘Five minutes from losing my leg – now I’m helping others with trauma’
Jake Cooper, 31, has rebuilt his life after a 2017 car crash left him with a traumatic brain injury and multiple serious injuries. Now a qualified personal trainer working for the NHS, he helps people recovering from brain injuries, drawing on his own experience.
Cooper spent seven weeks in hospital, underwent operations over several years and spent 18 months in a wheelchair. His right leg was nearly amputated, but his mother noticed that the nerves in his feet were intact and challenged the decision. After electrician work became too difficult, he retrained through Rehabilitate Therapy, qualifying as a personal trainer in early 2025.
In short
- Jake Cooper now helps brain injury survivors regain fitness.
- A crash left him with multiple injuries and long-term challenges.
- His mother helped prevent the amputation of his right leg.
Explained simply
A traumatic brain injury is damage to the brain caused by an external force, such as a blow or jolt in a crash. Recovery can involve hospital treatment and long-term support with movement, memory and everyday tasks.
Jake Cooper was seriously injured in a car crash in 2017 and spent 18 months in a wheelchair. After his injuries made electrician work difficult, he retrained as a personal trainer and now works with NHS patients recovering from brain injuries.
His experience connects two parts of recovery: clinical care and support to rebuild strength and confidence in daily life. His work also reflects how people may need to change careers after serious injury.