He recovered from paralysis to see life in a new light

You wouldn’t believe Justin Coomber was once paralysed. His bold travels today take him to the edges of cliffs and into the depths of the ocean. But at the age of eight, Coomber unexpectedly collapsed. Doctors diagnosed him with transverse myelitis, a rare virus that attacks the central nervous system. Coomber was confined to a wheelchair, terrified he may never walk, run around with his friends, or play sport ever again. Yet over the past decade, Coomber gradually regained his mobility. Now 22, he’s making the most of his incredible recovery by journeying across the globe and capturing every moment.

An adventure photographer and outdoor enthusiast, Coomber savours his new-found freedom by rock climbing, freediving, trail running and surfing. “The shock of losing my mobility overnight taught me to appreciate the things that other people take for granted,” Coomber says. In May 2019, he cycled 2 400 kilometres solo from Musina to Cape Town. Despite still being affected by nerve damage and scar tissue, Coomber didn’t let anything hold him back. He battled a knee injury, strong winds, and extreme exhaustion, but completed his journey in just over a month. 

During his cycle, Coomber photographed the world around him. “My relationship with mobility has changed forever and the photos I take reflect that,” he says. Through his endeavours, Coomber uncovered his own resilience. “Deep down in all of us, we have this mental hardiness,” he says. “We don’t often realise that we can push ourselves so much more than we thought.” For Coomber, there’s no such thing as giving up. With unwavering determination, we can challenge any limitation.

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