A YOUNG man who was left brain damaged after a car crash has overcome his injuries to row competitively.

Stuart Bowler, who was in a coma for four months following the incident five years ago, bagged a silver medal in the adaptive classification at the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) at Stirling University last month.

The 24-year-old from Shawlands now trains under para-sport coach John Blair at the Scottish Rowing Centre in Strathclyde Park, Motherwell.

As a result of the crash he is unable to walk unaided and has problems with balance and a weakness in his left arm.

But, after getting back into the gym a few years ago, he has improved his body strength and rediscovered his confidence.

Stuart said: "The accident has changed how I view things. Now I think your life is a pack of cards, you get dealt the hand you get. It's not in my nature to just give up.

"The rehabilitation process was difficult at times, but it all gradually came together."

Now Stuart trains twice a week at the rowing centre and is hoping to progress to do more competitions.

He has no memory of the car crash which happened outside Braehead shopping centre as he drove in convoy with some friends who were in a different car.

He woke up four months later in the Southern General Hospital before being transferred to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre at Merchiston.

After 11 months he was allowed to go home and he got involved with Glasgow Life's 'Live Active' scheme which helps inactive people get into exercise.

Before the accident, Stuart had worked as an apprentice car mechanic and had played five-a-side football every week.

But the crash had knocked his confidence and left him physically weaker after losing weight.

He struggled to even go out the house for a meal and lost contact with his friends.

At Bellahouston Gym he worked with an 'Live Active' instructor who challenged him to a rowing race. Stuart's talent was discovered and he was persuaded to work with the adaptive rowing team at the Scottish Rowing Centre.

He said: "I took to the sport. I like the hard work, I know that's a cliche.

"I wasn't very active until I found the gym. When the accident happened I lost so much weight and I needed to put muscle back on.

"I have made new friends at the gym and at the rowing centre. Now I'm working towards competition level."

And today he said he was very happy to back the Evening Times Active 2014 campaign which aims to improve people's lives.

He said: "I think the campaign is a good idea. The more active you are the better, in my opinion."

Coach John Blair, who is also facilities manager at the Scottish Rowing Centre, has noticed both physical and emotional changes in Stuart since he took up the sport.

He said: "Rowing itself is not an easy sport, one for the technical and skill element but two for the rigours on your body.

"I have seen, postural improvement and small changes to his ability for strength and composure.

"The trigger was the sport but the training within that has given him a good effect in his daily life."

Live Active was launched in 1997 as a GP referral scheme to provide support to anyone who wished to get more active.

It currently has 14 instructors in Glasgow, working across the main Glasgow Club facilities and receives around 4000 referrals a year in the city.

Lianne Thomas, Live Active manager, said Stuart's story was an inspiration to her team.

She said: "It's great to know that a programme we have got can make a difference to someone."

For more information about Live Active visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/liveactive

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk