An amazing day in Taunton at the home and workshop of Phil Eaglesham.
What an incredible wheelchair Phil and his crew have invented.
After contracting a very rare virus in Iraq ( in 2010 ?) whilst serving as a Marine, Phil was rendered ( functionally ) tetraplegic .. and yet had the spirit/ drive/ determination to dream up a unique wheeled invention.

The Omni is a terrific machine – all terrain and 4 wheel drive, with a rising seat height, as well as being fully reclining to a lying position.
Oh, and 0-8mph like a Ferrari.

Phil’s own story took a dramatic twist when ( through his own research ) he found a really old drug that ( once he’d finally been able to get hold of some- by having to leave the UK medical system and go to Europe where the rules are different ) his theory was then proved correct.
He can now take a tablet, and literally miraculously, can get out of his wheelchair and be physically normal.
Imagine that … for me that is a fairytale.

Of course there’s a downside… the drug will only be effective for a finite number of doses, after which he’s permanently back in his wheelchair.

Well it’s an extra reason to be motivated to develop the best machine possible.

Phil and I are extra connected via my buddy Dan White.
Dan phoned me a year ago to say he was skiing with a friend of mine.
I asked who, and he said Phil E.
I said ‘ is he in a sitski ? How is he doing?’
Dan said ‘ no, he’s on skis ‘
I said that it must be a different Phil as the one i knew definitely couldn’t stand up, let alone ski.. at which point I heard about the magic tablet.

If it sounds incredible to you, imagine how it sounds to me ( and anyone else in a wheelchair )

Phil, you’re a legend of a man.

Oh, and today marks 13 years since my own terrible bike crash.