Henry's Story 

Hello, I'm Henry Dunn, a 24-year-old CrossFit competitor and fitness enthusiast from Gloucestershire. I've had a lifelong passion for sports and fitness, starting with playing Rugby competitively from a young age and regularly hitting the gym. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Sport Injuries and Rehabilitation at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

After graduating in 2020, my partner and I seized the opportunity to travel as soon as the UK borders reopened after the COVID lockdown. We explored Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, indulging in activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and motorcycling across countries.

Following an incredible nine months of travel, my partner returned home to England to complete her teacher training course, while I ventured to the Northern Territory to work on a remote Cattle Station as a Station Hand Jackaroo. Immersed in the raw beauty of the Outback, I found the experience challenging but fulfilling. It was like working in a wild west film where i worked very long hours each day, and I was completely out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I did it. 

However, just a week before my scheduled return to England, tragedy struck. While working on the station fitting posts, my left arm was crushed in a Hydraulic Post Rammer. In the remote wilderness and in considerable pain, I improvised a tourniquet and embarked on an eight-hour journey travelling well over 500 kilometres to reach the nearest hospital, involving a car ride, an air ambulance helicopter, and treacherous weather conditions.

Upon reaching the hospital, I was rushed into surgery in a bid to save my arm. The surgeon told me if they can save it, the surgery will take fifteen hours or so and if not, it will take a few. When I looked at the clock after waking up, I knew my arm wouldn’t be there.

My arm was amputated just below the elbow, and after hearing the news, my dad flew out on the next available flight to be with me. I spent the next two weeks in the hospital and a further week in a hotel before flying back to the UK in December 2022. Being Christmas time, I was extremely busy for the first month catching up with friends and family and getting into my rehabilitation. What followed were the dark months of January to March, which I can only describe as an extremely difficult time following my accident, especially after spending a year travelling.

Recognising that I needed a focus, at the end of January, I went to my first CrossFit class and haven’t looked back since. I knew it would give me a focus and challenge me both physically and mentally, which was exactly what I needed at the time. In CrossFit, any exercise can be adapted to suit my needs, and there’s a huge sense of community in the sport. I now train every day and am working towards taking part in competitions in 2024.