Matthew "Hambo" Hampson was born on 29 November 1984 is an English former rugby union prop who became paralysed from the neck down, after a scrummaging accident when practising with England under-21 squad in March 2005.
12 Facts About Matt Hampson
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Matt Hampson's condition requires permanent use of a ventilator to breathe.
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Matt Hampson was regarded as a promising prop and although he had not made his Leicester debut he had been an unused bench replacement.
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Matt Hampson had played for England U18 and England U21.
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Matt Hampson's accident happened on 15 March 2005 at Franklin's Gardens, when the England U21 team were preparing for an under 21 Six Nations match against Scotland.
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Referee and former paramedic Tony Spreadbury was praised for his quick reaction to stabilise Matt Hampson's neck, saving him even further damage that could have resulted in his death.
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Matt Hampson was taken first to Northampton General Hospital and then to the specialist spine unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had an operation to relocate his spine.
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Matt Hampson spent 18 months in Stoke Mandeville, where he contracted a life-threatening Clostridioides difficile infection.
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Matt Hampson is particularly supported by his sister Amy, her boyfriend Adam Wheatley and former England U21 captain Matt Cornwell.
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In 2011 the Matt Hampson trust gained full charity status and became the Matt Hampson Foundation.
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Matt Hampson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2021 New Year Honours for voluntary and charitable service, and received his award from the Princess Anne in a ceremony at Windsor Castle in February 2022.
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Matt Hampson's ambition was to create a dedicated physical rehabilitation centre for sufferers of serious injuries through sports-accidents, resulting in life-changing conditions with long-term effects including permanent disability, to help them to recover to the best of their abilities.