How I Survived Falling From 900 Feet

In this episode of OMG Stories: Up Close, Rob Bugden shares the incredible true story of surviving a 900-foot fall that left him paralysed and changed his life forever. As an RAF parachute jumping instructor, Rob had completed countless jumps and trained others to do the same. In 2016, during what should have been a routine military parachuting exercise, a mid-air collision caused two parachutes to collapse. Within seconds, Rob was falling towards the ground with no way to stop it. He woke up in hospital with devastating injuries, including severe damage to his spine that left him paralysed from the shoulders down. Unable to move, feed himself, or even perform the simplest daily tasks, Rob suddenly faced a future that looked completely different from the one he had planned. But what followed was an extraordinary battle back. Supported by family, friends, fellow servicemen and specialist rehabilitation teams, Rob slowly rebuilt his life. From learning basic independence again to completing wheelchair half marathons and raising money for charity, he refused to let the accident define him. In this powerful conversation, Rob opens up about survival, resilience, friendship, recovery, and finding purpose after trauma. 🎙️ In this episode, Rob discusses: Joining the Royal Air Force and becoming a parachute instructor The military training exercise that went catastrophically wrong The mid-air collision that caused him to fall 900 feet Waking up in hospital with life-changing injuries Living with paralysis and adapting to a new reality The physical and emotional challenges of rehabilitation The dark moments he faced during recovery How friends, family and fellow servicemen helped him keep going Learning to regain independence one step at a time Completing wheelchair half marathons and fundraising challenges The importance of mindset when facing adversity Why resilience is built through small daily victories His advice for anyone going through difficult times Rob's story is a remarkable reminder that even after the most devastating setbacks, it is possible to rebuild, adapt, and find happiness again. 🎙️ OMG Stories: Up Close – real conversations with people living extraordinary lives. 🔔 Subscribe for more unbelievable true stories every week.