Jamie Hull's story - Special Forces veteran

The horrific third-degree burns that Jamie Hull suffered over 63 per cent of his body in an aircraft fire almost cost him his life. The doctors gave him a five per cent chance of survival and, as he admits, it took an “epic journey and an inordinate amount of grit, determination, and willpower” to pull through.

Before the accident, Jamie loved diving. He travelled to different places like Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji to explore the ocean and see beautiful reefs.

But after the accident, British Army veteran Jamie completely lost the confidence to get into the water. He was worried about the saltwater and wasn't sure if his skin could take it.

But five years after the 2007 incident and 60 operations later, Jamie decided to give it a go after being invited along on a dive by some old scuba buddies.

“I was so worried. I thought my skin might come off with the wetsuit. It took all my courage just to get the suit on and take that giant stride into the ocean. But I did it. The water was my friend again, and it helped my skin redevelop.”

Armed Forces veteran Jamie is aware of the huge distance he has come since that fateful day back in the plane crash and solo flight.

Jamie Hull plane crash

“I had an ambition to learn to fly, so I went out to Florida to complete a course. I was eventually allowed to fly solo, but one day an engine fire breached the cockpit at an altitude of 1,000ft.

As I made a concerted effort to bring the plane down, I sustained the burns. I had two or three dark years after that and underwent 61 surgeries."

Jamie had 45 seconds to save his life, to fly a burning plane while the flames melted his flesh around him, and then climb onto the wing with the plane rapidly descending and leap to the ground - and to his probable death.

Jamie sustained horrific third-degree burns over 60 per cent of his body and was hospitalised with a 5% chance of survival. He spent six months in intensive care in the United States in an induced coma. As a result of his extreme burns and his life hanging in the balance, he endured renal failure, internal injuries, kidney dialysis, pneumonia, and septicaemia. Jamie was hospitalised for a further 18 months in the UK.

”Blesma played a big part in Jamie’s journey back into the water: a trip to the Red Sea with the Association helped reaffirm his love of diving.

“Blesma’s scuba diving programme really does have great scope because it’s an activity that is accessible to people with almost any form of disability.”

Jamie joined Blesma, not because of the burns to his body, but because of the nerve damage, he has suffered in the lower portion of both legs. Since joining Blesma, Jamie has been skydiving and horse riding in Arizona, but the water remains his focus. He also took part in Race Across America.

He has now released a book titled "Life on a thread" and is now a motivational speaker