Jack was born with a congenital condition in his right leg called PFFD
Jack Eyers (born 1989) is a British paracanoeist who competes at international canoe competitions. He is a two-time World champion and a European champion. He is an above-the-knee leg amputee. This condition affected the development of his tremor and hip joint and got progressively worse throughout his childhood and early teenage years. As he reflects back, he remembers being in a very dark place with no vision for his future.
Eyers says: “I have a theory that when you have an amputation (or any life-changing operation) you are reborn. Like a child, you need to start from scratch; learning how to walk, balance and face the world with confidence. The best way to practice this and develop your motor skills is through challenging your perceived ‘comfort zone’ using exercise and sport”.
On one of his many hospital visits he was introduced to a patient called Louie who was born with a similar condition. Louie had elective surgery and had chosen to have his leg amputated. As Jack got chatting to Louie, he found out that he was now a one-legged stuntman and proudly showed pictures of film sets from ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and ‘The Mummy’ to name a few. This inspiring interaction with a complete stranger was going to change Jack’s mindset and outlook on life forever. Louie taught Jack how to look beyond the disability and use the perceived disadvantage as a unique advantage.