North Yorkshire vet paralysed in bull attack vows to walk again as rescue mission features in TV series
![Chris Cundall being treated at the scene.](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_101331882.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Chris Cundall being treated at the scene.](/img/placeholder.png)
Chris Cundall, 63, was called to a farm close to his Scarborough practice in North Yorkshire to look at a bull that was lame. The 63-year-old went to examine the animal which first crushed him against one wall before spinning around and pounding him again into the back wall of the enclosure.
Mr Cundall, a vet with 40 years’ experience, suffered a spinal fracture which impinged on his spinal cord leaving him partially paralysed from the waist down.
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Hide AdThe incident took place a year ago and the drama will be shown on the third series of Helicopter ER which starts on Monday at 9pm on UKTV’s real life channel Really.
![Vet Chris Cundall was paralysed following a bull attack.](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/webimg/legacy_ash_101331891.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Vet Chris Cundall was paralysed following a bull attack.](/img/placeholder.png)
Meanwhile, Mr Cundall is planning to do a sponsored walk on a Zimmer frame – either at different racecourses or between the penultimate and last fence of one course to raise money for both Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Injured Jockey Fund which runs a state-of-the-art rehabilitation unit at Jack Berry House where he has been having treatment.
Recalling the afternoon of the attack Mr Cundall said: "I don’t really remember the accident itself but, as I was on the ground waiting for the bull to come at me again, I do remember thinking well, this is probably it.
“I wasn’t frightened. I’ve had a very good life, but the animal never came at me again. At that time my ribs hurt more than my back but when I could not feel my legs I knew I was buggered.”
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Hide AdHe was was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough but is now in a wheelchair with an ‘incomplete’ paralysis. He has had to move out of the family's Sherburn farm into a wheelchair accessible house but is determined to walk again.
Mr Cundall added: “I do a lot of exercise and I can move my legs a little now and weight bear with just a little support.
“I try to read complete chapters of books standing up and, I don’t know whether I will improve any more, but my goal is to be able to walk properly with a Zimmer frame.
“It is obviously incredibly hard on me and my family but there are people who are much worse off than me and I’m definitely a glass half full kind of person.”