Hang-glider aims to walk again

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Hang-glider aims to walk again
Geoff Dossetor
RELATED VIDEO- Hang-glider aims to walk again (02:01)Jun 28, 2003

Former World Cup hang-gliding champion Geoff Dossetor was left paralysed after misjudging a landing in Queenstown two years ago.

Now he and his fulltime nurse will fly to San Diego to join Project Walk, and American rehabilitation programme.

The accident crushed his spinal cord just weeks after the birth of his daughter.

"I was saying I wanted to be able to hold Taylor and I can now, not as well as I'd like but that'll come," he says.

The programme will teach him how to bring on and then use muscle spasms.

"All the muscles in my body work. It's a matter of getting the messages through to them," he says.

"I'm sure I could just about get up and walk away now. It's really a confidence thing."

ACC rules mean he can only stay four weeks, but Geoff hopes that will be long enough to learn the techniques and then perfect them back home.

He has been encouraged by a personal message from Christopher Reeve and has had community support.

"If I can get back walking I'll do the motivational speaking circuit and try to help other people."

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