‘Amazing Grace’ fights back after horror accident
A champion boxer is facing the fight of her life after her legs were mangled in an industrial accident.
National amateur champion Grace Hall, from Dinnington and formerly of Woodhouse, suffered serious ankle and leg injuries during her 'day job' at a haulage firm.
She is in the early stages of recovery, but is being helped by her Sheffield boxing coach Steve Dakin, in the Rileys gym in Hillsborough.
He is spending hours each day trying to rehabilitate her while keeping her as upbeat as possible, given her pain and concern about her future in and out of the ring.
Grace's legs were crushed after she collided with a piece of plant machinery on site, six weeks ago, said the trainer.
The 25-year-old suffered a broken ankle and a crushed leg on one side with severe ligament damage on the other.
"She had to wait 10 days to have an operation due to the amount of swelling and has had her foot reconstructed and a further operation to her ankle" said Steve.
"The surgeon and staff at Chesterfield hospital - where she was taken because they were deemed to be the specialist in this type of crushing - had not seen such an injury before.
"It had been a horrific accident and she is on many different types of pain relief, including morphine."
Steve was regularly at her bedside in hospital.
"She was at an all-time low and really suffering" he said.
"She was eventually released with a pot on one leg and a boot on the other, with directives on keeping her leg elevated for long periods to heal, start to repair and avoid blood clots."
He said Grace, who has been crowned a Yorkshire champion as well as winning a National Development title, was "not one for sitting still and thrives in the gym environment."
So they decided to arrange carefully-managed exercises which would release endorphins as well as help her physically.
"We adapted her training to include the directive of the hospital and spent time hitting the pads and punch bags along with technical work.
"In essence, everything that we had done previously, but this time without using her legs."
Prior to the accident, the former Wickersley junior footballer had been scheduled to compete in a National elite level boxing tournament, with high hopes of duplicating her previous title successes.
"Grace and myself remain optimistic about the future and the aim to turn professional" said Steve.
"However, she needs to follow the guidance of medical staff and we keep our fingers crossed for a good recovery. It will take time.
"Grace is in our new gym (Herries Road) most days of the week.
"In addition to that, we are in the park, with me pushing the chair getting fresh air and putting the world to rights!
"All of this is both mentally and physically testing, Grace's resilience is like no other. I christened her 'Amazing Grace' some time ago. And I certainly stand by it.
"Mentally she does have some lows. A full recovery is uncertain but her determination to resume her boxing career and dream of turning professional, remains optimistic."