When terrible things happen it is our mindset that determines how it impacts us. Niall McCann explains how he found gratitude for the opportunity to redefine his life after breaking his back.
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Dr Niall McCann is the Director of National Park Rescue protecting large areas of nature and the species within. He is also an intrepid adventurer having rowed the Atlantic, cycled the Himalayas and skied across Greenland.
Ever the positive thinker Niall faced his biggest obstacle head-on when he suffered a broken spine in 2016, on a speed flying exercise in the Brecon Beacons. He broke five vertebrae, one of which was - in the words of his surgeon: obliterated. After being told he might never walk again, a year after his accident Niall joined the Mountain Rescue team that rescued him
He is preparing to cross the Vatnajökull icecap with two other friends with broken spines to raise money for charity.
Millimeters 2 Mountains The charity helps those facing adversity experience the outdoors and the healing power of adventure.
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Connect with Dr Niall McCann:
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Connect with Sam:
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Chapters:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:58 Niall McCann
- 04:02 Quickfire questions
- 06:00 How did Niall break his back and survive - Speed flying
- 08:42 Rode across the Atlantic tangent
- 11:02 Any app that could help you with Speed flying?
- 11:37 Femur photograph tangent
- 11:53 What happened during the accident
- 16:29 Tolerance for pain
- 20:25 Niall's road to recovery: 1st surgery
- 23:18 Second surgery
- 24:35 Bowel issues
- 28:59 Humor as a coping mechanism
- 29:22 Niall and Sam facing the fact that he may never walk again from their injuries
- 32:29 How much feeling does Niall have in his lower extremities
- 33:49 Activities Niall does after his injury
- 35:19 Niall's friend - Ed Jackson
- 36:27 Coming to terms with doing things differently than before
- 38:39 What adventure awaits Niall
- 39:30 Niall's friend - Darren Edwards
- 40:52 3 guys on an expedition to raise awareness and motivate those suffering from a spinal injury
- 42:21 Tom - Niall's best mate, as a source of inspiration with his injury
- 44:00 Tangent on physio stuff
- 45:04 Vipassana tangent
- 45:25 Feet and exercise tangent
- 48:19 Positive mentality goes a long way
- 48:51 Story on Niall's dad and his blood type
- 50:50 Make the most of your year and build upon it
- 53:25 Niall's mindset on how he chooses his adventures
- 55:52 How Niall gets to make his adventures happen
- 57:50 Outro
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