An Armagh man left in a wheelchair after a collision when he was 22 shared his story after graduating with a Master’s degree
Aidan Hegarty was only 22 when his life changed after being involved in a serious road traffic collision just before starting the fourth year of his undergraduate medical degree.
In August 2024, he was left in a wheelchair as a result of the incident, facing life-changing injuries and making the tough decision to suspend his medical degree indefinitely.
On Thursday, he walked across the stage at Queen’s University Belfast with pride as he graduated Master’s degree in Clinical Anatomy.
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Aidan said: “I was involved in a road traffic collision as a pedestrian, where I sustained life changing injuries to my right leg. I had multiple fractures, dislocated my knee and damaged a nerve and an artery.
“I had emergency surgery the next day, where they were thankfully able to save the limb, and I spent three weeks in the Major Trauma Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.
“Suddenly my life as I knew it changed in an instant. Everything went on pause, the small things you worry about day to day now seemed insignificant as there was a new priority: healing.
“It was a time of complete uncertainty, what was planned to be a busy year was now an empty calendar, and without a sense of purpose or direction, I felt lost.
“It was difficult to go from being a fully independent and proactive person to now being completely dependent on others. It was also difficult to know I would be falling behind my peers who were progressing on as expected.”
Despite these challenges, Aidan decided to focus on his treatment and getting better, adopting a positive attitude and finding purpose in his situation.
He continued: “While in hospital, I started looking to see if there were any courses that could take me in at late notice at Queen’s, so as not to waste a year and have nothing to show for it.
“Luckily the team at Queen’s were very accommodating and allowed me to join the Clinical Anatomy Master’s course.
” was always keen to pursue a surgical career, and this seemed like a fitting course to help me build skills for the future. I was impressed by what I saw online of the facilities, course content and staff and applied immediately.
“The staff and students were very accommodating of my needs and supported me throughout my recovery.”
Aidian said he was “blown away” at what Queen’s had to offer, as he had previously studied at the University of Liverpool, and went on to be selected for the start-up acceleration QUEST programme during his studies for a business idea he had with one of his fellow students.
His dissertation looked at the specific injury that he faced, to help future outcomes of patients who find themselves in similar situation and he hopes to continue developing these business and research projects moving forward.
“This experience changed my perspective in many ways, I found it very important to turn negative experiences into positive outcomes, and to do anything possible to move forwards, regardless of what life throws at you,” he said.
“It was great news to wake up with two legs after the surgery! I spent all year with the physios doing intensive rehab to help me walk again. This is a work in progress.
“From starting the course in a wheelchair and then progressing to crutches, I was glad to be on my feet by the time I finished the course. I am very proud of all I have achieved over this past year.”
Following his graduation today, Aidan will be returning to complete his medicine course at the University of Liverpool and will continue focusing on his business development ideas, as well as continuing with his physiotherapy rehabilitation.
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