North Yorkshire vet paralysed in bull attack vows to walk again as rescue mission features in TV series

A vet is planning to do a sponsored walk using a zimmer frame in aid of two organisations that helped him when he was left paralysed after a bull he was treating attacked him.
Chris Cundall being treated at the scene.Chris Cundall being treated at the scene.
Chris Cundall being treated at the scene.

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 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.Vet Chris Cundall was paralysed following a bull attack.
Vet Chris Cundall was paralysed following a bull attack.

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.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He 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.”