In 2004 Dan competed in Paul Smith’s show, The UKBFF South Coast,  as a 1st timer amateur body builder.

After the show he decided to take a couple of years off to put on some size.

In this time he moved house with his wife, and had a son Toby. As a family they were working hard having fun and generally moving along nicely. However on the 5th October 2006 Dan had an accident at work falling 20ft from a roof resulting in a shattered T12 Vertebrae and paralysis from the chest down.

The next 6 months were spent at the National Centre for spinal injuries in Stoke Mandeville, where Dan began his rehabilitation programme.  When he left the hospital he had regained a small amount of lower limb muscle activity which enabled him to walk with crutches for 10 meters. 6 months out of hospital in 2007 he started the gym again at The Weights room,

Eastleigh with his training partner Ted. After a year his training, along with walking was going very well.

 Dan really wanted to compete again. He had spoken to Paul about this but at the present time there is no wheelchair class in UK Bodybuilding. Knowing that Dan had his heart set on competing again Paul asked if he would be a guest poser at the show. Dan decided to set himself the challenge of doing Paul’s show again but being bigger and in better condition than when he was able bodied. Dan hopes to raise awareness of spinal injuries today and the impact they have on normal lives. He also aims to encourage fundraising for the essential work that happens daily at The National Centre for Spinal Injuries.

Although still largely dependant on his wheelchair, his progress has meant he can now walk about a ¼ of a mile with sticks, on a good day. He is always striving to improve.

Dan Smith has become a CNP Sponsored Athlete and a link to his guest spot at the UKBFF show at Portsmouth is on our 2009 show pages.

 The response was amazing. The crowd and judges were all on their feet.He is really trying to raise awareness for a wheelchair class in the UK.Dan is going to guest pose at The British finals in Nottingham this year.