Colin Edwards

Devon-based Colin Edwards has spent almost three decades as a below-knee amputee. A former farmer and long-term patient of Dorset Orthopaedic, Colin is still seeking out new challenges and making memories with his family, nearly 30 years after choosing to have his leg amputated.

Colin's journey began at the age of 18 when a serious motorcycle accident changed his life forever. A car travelling the wrong way on a dual carriageway collided with him head-on, leaving him with significant injuries to his leg. Surgeons managed to save the limb through extensive reconstructive surgery, including artery transfers and skin grafts, but the effects of the accident stayed with him long after the initial recovery.

For nearly 20 years, Colin lived with chronic pain and ongoing complications. He had little movement in his ankle and toes, while parts of his leg had no sensation at all. The lasting effects of the injury had a significant impact on Colin's confidence. "I was self-conscious about my leg and rarely wore shorts," Colin recalls. "I avoided things like swimming and didn't want attention drawn to it."

Shortly before his 40th birthday, a surgeon asked Colin whether he had ever considered amputation. After spending years managing the effects of his injury, the suggestion offered a different way forward. Looking back on that conversation, Colin said: "When the surgeon asked if I'd ever consider amputation, it was like somebody turned a light on."

Colin ultimately made the decision to undergo an elective amputation, a choice that was far less common at the time than it is today. "I chose to have my leg amputated, which back then was seen as quite a strange thing,” said Colin.

Although the decision felt like the right one, adjusting to life after amputation was not straightforward. Prosthetic technology was very different at that time, and the first two years brought their own challenges.

As a farmer, Colin relied on his prosthesis every day. The sockets were heavy, and there were times when his prosthesis would come off in muddy fields while he was working. Looking back, Colin describes those first two years as "absolutely terrible".

The turning point came when Colin was introduced to Ottobock silicone liners and carbon fibre prosthetic technology. The difference was immediate, and for the first time he felt comfortable relying on his prosthesis every day. Looking back, Colin remembers just how significant the change was: "Literally overnight, my life was transformed. The leg felt like part of me, rather than a prosthesis. I could catch my sheep again!"

With his mobility improved and confidence grew, Colin began pushing himself further than ever before. He joined a running club and discovered a passion for endurance challenges and adventure.

Over the years, he has completed an incredible list of achievements, including trekking to Everest Base Camp, climbing Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, completing the entire 630-mile South West Coast Path and running The Grizzly, a 20-mile off-road race, more than 20 times.

One of Colin's proudest achievements was completing the South West Coast Path, a challenge that ultimately led him to Dorset Orthopaedic. During the journey, he met Matt Hughes, Managing Director and Prosthetist from Dorset Orthopaedic, and was later invited to visit the clinic in Ringwood. There, Colin transitioned from a traditional pin-lock socket to vacuum suspension technology, which became another major milestone in his rehabilitation.

Before making the change, long-distance running often meant stopping multiple times to remove his leg and manage swelling. After moving to a vacuum suspension system, Colin no longer felt restricted in the same way: "I felt as though I could now run as far as my body could run, not as far as my leg could run."

In July 2026, Colin completed an expedition to Mount Kenya with his son, Tom. The pair began their final ascent at 3am, climbing towards the summit in darkness. During the climb, they spotted a shooting star overhead, which Colin describes as "a goosebumps moment.” As dawn broke, they reached the summit and looked out across the landscape below. Looking back on the achievement, Colin said: "the emotion flooding out of us was just brilliant."

For Colin, these moments represent far more than physical achievements. They are about sharing experiences with his family and continuing to live life to the fullest.

Today, Colin remains as active as ever. He continues to run, take part in sport with his family and is already considering future adventures, including another Grizzly race.

Reflecting on his own experience, Colin hopes others facing amputation understand that progress takes time. His advice is clear: "It's not going to be easy. There are going to be sores, blisters and setbacks along the way. Take time, persevere and you'll get there. You'll be proud of yourself, and your family will be proud of you."