Former Rugby Player Becomes Camborne Mayor After Overcoming Personal Challenges

James Ball, a former rugby player, disclosed that he attempted suicide following his adaptation to using a wheelchair. Eight years subsequent to these events, Mr. Ball now holds the position of mayor in Camborne. Mr. Ball stated that his “life completely changed” 11 years prior, when a standard appointment with his general practitioner for “some knee trouble” uncovered issues with his hip joints. This medical condition necessitated the former rugby player’s use of a wheelchair and resulted in subsequent impacts on his mental well-being. The 45-year-old Mr. Ball informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he underwent five surgical procedures within a few months as medical professionals endeavored to preserve his leg. He mentioned that he still requires two hip replacements and two new knees, but is “too young to have the operations on the NHS”. He quoted, “They’ll look at it when I’m 55 but I’ll take longer to recover then. I’ve fought and fought as much as I can.” He further stated: “To start off with it was a struggle as I went from being so active, running around on a rugby pitch, to within a blink of an eye being in a wheelchair.” He continued, “How quickly it happened was shocking. Fortunately I had a lot of support around me, but it still had a damaging effect on my mental health.” Mr. Ball revealed he attempted suicide on two occasions. He remarked, “Now, obviously, I’m glad I didn’t do it because of what I’ve achieved.” He recounted his most challenging periods, stating: “When it happens, you think ‘what am I going to do now?’ You think I can’t do this, I can’t do that, I can’t run around with my daughter, I can’t kick a ball around, I can’t go for a walk on the beach. “He added, “It has a huge impact on you… It had a huge impact on my family.” He noted, “Everyone that I meet I quite openly tell that I tried to take my own life.” He emphasized, “You shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. If me talking about it then stops that person, it’s worth it.” He mentioned that following the event in 2016, he received medication and mental health assistance. He commented, “It sounds corny, but it’s that little switch that just flicks in your head and instead of thinking what I can’t do, it’s what I can do.” He continued, “Once you’ve got that, you can move on and fortunately we live in a society now where disabled people are accepted pretty much everywhere. ” He concluded, “There are a few issues with access to various things, but largely it’s very positive.” He expressed that upon assuming the mayoral office, his objective was to leave the town “better than it was”. Mr. Ball further stated: “In the six months so far I think I’ve achieved that a little bit, but I want to do more. ” He concluded, “There’s a lot of positivity in Camborne.” For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.