A PE teacher was left paralyzed after slipping while doing a squat, which caused a 120kg barbell to crush her spine.
Henrietta Paxton, 40, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was accustomed to lifting heavy weights at the gym without any prior injuries. However, in May this year, the barbell unexpectedly slipped backward during her squat set and landed behind her shoulders.
The mother of two attempted to readjust her stance but overcompensated, causing herself to lean forward and be crushed under the heavy weight.
Ms. Paxton was urgently transported to Southampton General Hospital, where scans and tests revealed the heartbreaking news: she had fractured part of her spine and damaged her spinal cord, resulting in paralysis from the waist down.



Ms. Paxton described the incident as “the most terrifying moment of my life.”
“I knew instantly what was happening and felt powerless to stop it. There was a massive thud—an enormous thud—that’s the sensation I felt in my back as it occurred. Deep down, I knew something had gone horribly wrong. I heard the sound of my back breaking and felt the pain immediately. People around me tried to calm me and reassure me, but I knew right away what had happened.
“It was a split-second decision that went terribly wrong. The pain was indescribable; there’s nothing I can compare it to. It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced.”
She admitted that she should have been using a squat safety bar—a piece of gym equipment designed to help safely manage the weight. Although she normally used this equipment, it was not available at that particular gym.

Doctors informed Ms. Paxton that regaining sensation in her spine after such an injury is quite rare.
“In hindsight, it’s absurd to think about squatting without using a safety bar. I’d advise anyone to never squat without them.”
The day after the accident, she underwent surgery to fuse five of her vertebrae together to stabilize her spine. Although the operation was successful, doctors told Ms. Paxton that it’s very unlikely she will regain sensation.
She said, “The surgery itself wasn’t as concerning to me as the damage to my spinal cord, which can’t be repaired. The surgery was just to fix the bone.”
After spending six weeks in the hospital, Ms. Paxton was transferred to the Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury, where she continues to receive treatment.

The day after the accident on May 29, she underwent surgery to fuse five of her vertebrae together in order to stabilize her spine.


Despite doctors’ advice that she may never walk again, she remains resolute in her efforts to regain movement in her legs. She diligently uses a standing frame every day to maintain strength in her lower body.
Ms. Paxton still deals with significant back discomfort but continues to attend her regular gym sessions, focusing on upper body workouts.
Her passion for sports has been a driving force throughout her life. She competed in pole vaulting at two Commonwealth Games before retiring in 2017 due to a knee injury.
Ms. Paxton hopes to return to work in January for the new school term and is considering taking up a new sport, such as wheelchair basketball or wheelchair rugby.
She remarked: “I always knew I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to go to the Olympics and be an athlete. That’s all I ever wanted to do.”


She hopes to return to work in January for the new school term and is considering starting a new sport, like wheelchair basketball or wheelchair rugby.

Most of her current rehab focuses on adapting to life in a wheelchair, including learning how to get in and out of the chair. However, she is determined to do everything possible to support her spinal cord’s healing process.
She shared, “I have so much left to do in my life; I’m not going to let this condition diminish the quality of my life or my family’s. That’s what motivates me each day and keeps me going.”
She added, “Life moves on, with or without you, so I’d rather be an active participant.”
She is known for her tenacity and reluctance to accept defeat. “There are many new skills to master and so much to adjust to. It’s eye-opening how many things you take for granted.”
She noted, “Simple tasks, like putting on clothes, have become quite challenging. Even pulling shorts up and down feels like an effort. Everything takes longer now, and I can’t just pop to the bathroom quickly.”
She admitted that transitioning from a fast-paced lifestyle to one that requires patience has been a significant adjustment for her.

She has always had a passion for sport and even competed in the pole vault at two commonwealth games before retiring in 2017 following a knee injury

Some of the money raised in the fundraiser will also be put towards private rehab once she has been discharged from the hospital

She hopes that the house renovations will be completed within the next six weeks, allowing her to be discharged from the hospital and return home.
However, Ms. Paxton has found herself unable to navigate her own home, prompting her to launch a JustGiving page to raise part of the £230,000 needed for the necessary modifications to her three-story house.
The funds will also help cover private rehabilitation once she leaves the hospital.
Ms. Paxton explained that she requires a platform lift installed outside her home and a through-floor lift inside to move between floors. Additionally, the bathroom needs to be adapted for her use.
“It’s a significant goal, but I’m feeling hopeful,” she said. “We understand it’s a lot of money, and we don’t receive any grants for these home modifications. We have to cover all these costs ourselves, as well as any future rehab expenses.”
“It’s a three-story townhouse, which is incredibly impractical for a wheelchair. It’s hard to imagine a more unsuitable home for my needs.
My long-term goal is to stand and walk again, and to pursue that, I need to fund private rehabilitation, which isn’t cheap but is necessary given the way the system works.
I’ve been deeply moved by the support from friends and family. Despite this being one of the hardest experiences imaginable, it has shown me how incredible people can be, and we’ve received so much love and support.
We have a significant amount left to raise, so every little bit really helps. I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has already donated or is planning to.
I have two young boys, ages three and five, and I need to return to them. I want to be back with my family and ensure that my accident doesn’t negatively impact their lives or opportunities. I don’t want this to affect the quality of our family life or the things we do together.”