JUST 11 weeks after being told he may never walk again, courageous Conor Jones was today back at school studying for his GCSEs.

Richard Cornwell

JUST 11 weeks after being told he may never walk again, courageous Conor Jones was today back at school studying for his GCSEs.

For the determined Felixstowe teenager it is a vital step in his recovery - bringing back some normality to his life and helping him focus on the future.

Doctors have been thrilled with his progress and he is now able to walk with a crutch just weeks after a freak accident in which he fell 16ft from a tree and broke four bones in his back.

He has had two half days back at Deben High School in Felixstowe this week and hopes to return full-time next week.

Conor, 15 of Thurston Court said: “It's been good - it was a trial really to see how it went.

“Moving around the school was fine. They are letting me out of lessons a bit early so I don't get bumped in the corridors when everyone comes out of the classrooms.

“I think it will get easier each day.”

Conor has stressed that he just wants to be treated like any other student as he returns to school, but teaching staff will do all they can if he needs help moving around the school in Garrison Lane.

His father Sean said: “We thought half days at first was a good idea to ease him back into it as we didn't know what sort of effect a full day might have and how much it would take out of him.

“He can rest in the afternoons and then have the weekend and we will see how it goes next week.

“It's an important year for him with his GCSEs. He has been lucky in the sense that he hasn't missed too many lessons.

“We are sure he will be OK because he is quite sensible and has the right attitude and pushes himself hard - he has shown that with the way he has fought back in his recovery.

“We cannot understand what he is going through - only another person who has been through this could know what he is feeling and thinking - but we are all doing we can to help,” he said.

Consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon Dr David Sharp repositioned Conor's spine and pinned it back in place with 39 staples.

While he can walk, he cannot move his feet and has lost feeling in his hips and legs are numb.

BACKGROUND

Conor's life was turned upside down on June 24 when he 16ft from a tree and landed on a tree stump breaking his back.

He was airlifted to Ipswich Hospital Consultant where orthopaedic spinal surgeon Dr David Sharp repositioned Conor's spine and pinned it back in place with 39 staples.

He was then moved to Stoke Mandeville Hospital's Spinal Injuries Centre in Aylesbury.

While he can walk, he cannot move his feet and has lost feeling in his hips and legs are numb.

He was told he would have a 70 per cent chance of walking again and will have to return to Stoke Mandeville once a week for check-ups and physiotherapy.