Paralysed student, who defied doubters by graduating as a doctor, now aims for Paralympics

Xander paddles a va’a. Credit: Xander van der Poll

By Ellie Philpotts

A medical student who was paralysed during his degree has not only qualified as a doctor but hopes to compete at the next Paralympic Games.

Dr Xander Van der Poll has been paralysed from the waist down since 2018, when, aged 19, he fell from a tree. But just 6 years later he has graduated from the University of Bristol, defying some who thought his hopes of a medical career were over.