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SIA vice president Martin Hibbert visits the set of Coronation Street
The following article has been adapted from itv.com/coronationstreet
SIA vice president Martin Hibbert recently visited the set of Coronation Street to help actor Alan Halsall with research for Tyrone’s spinal injury storyline.
Martin and wife Gabby met Alan and on-screen wife Fiz, played by Jennie McAlpine to share their own experience of living with a spinal cord injury. Martin was the closest casualty to the bomb blast to survive, suffering 22 shrapnel wounds and undergoing lifesaving surgery at Salford Royal Hospital. Martin’s spine was severed by shrapnel, leaving him with a T10 complete spinal cord injury and paralysed from the waist down.
Tonight (13 October) viewers saw Tyrone’s recovery set back when he fell out of his wheelchair whilst at home alone. Having left him at home, believing Fiz was on her way home, Cassie was shocked to find him lying on the floor when she returned.
In the coming months viewers will see Tyrone’s struggle to deal with the mental and physical effects of the injury which will put real strain on his and Fiz’s marriage.
Alan and Jennie were delighted to be able to meet Martin and Gabby and get some real insight into the life of someone living with, or caring for someone with such a life changing injury.
Alan said: “We are so grateful to Martin and Gabby for giving up their time to talk to us about their experiences. We might be telling this story on screen but at the end of the day we go home to our family and friends and leave behind what the characters are going through. Even just trying to negotiate getting round the set in the wheelchair has been a real eyeopener for me so to hear Martin’s own stories about how his life has changed has been really helpful and also humbling.”
Jennie added: “For Fiz trying to juggle family life and caring for Tyrone is really difficult. It was invaluable for us to meet them both and hear Gabby’s side of their story, for them their lives changed in an instant in so many ways and that is what Fiz is having to deal with whilst looking after Tyrone.”
Martin said: “I’m so impressed that Coronation Street has chosen to tell this important story. Spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time, and having such a big TV programme shine a light on the realities of living with it will make a huge difference. By showing that ordinary people can be affected, it helps to raise awareness, break down barriers and start vital conversations about life after injury.
“It was an honour for Gabby and I to share our experience and see first-hand the care and respect the team are putting into getting this right.”
“It really was an incredible day — we had a full tour of the set, met several of the cast, and even watched a scene being filmed! But more importantly, we were there to share our experience of life with a spinal injury — the challenges, the adjustments, and the reality of living every day with paralysis. A huge thank you to Alan, Jennie, and everyone at ITV for making us feel so welcome — and for using such a powerful platform to shine a light on the spinal injury community.”
