Ambassador David Holmes' new documentary.

Posted by Vicky Brady on 15 November 2023

This week sees the awaited premiere of RNOH Charity Ambassador David Holmes' new documentary: David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived. Executive produced by Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe, the documentary explores the decade plus-long friendship between the two in the wake of David's spinal injury in 2009 following an accident on set while filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.   

Following the accident, David spent six months being treated for his spinal injury at RNOH's Spinal Cord Injury Centre (SCIC). SCIC is the largest of only 11 specialist centres in the UK dedicated to the lifelong service of people with a spinal cord injury. It is focussed on the restoration, rehabilitation, and reintegration of people with dysfunction of the spine and spinal cord.   

 David's time on the spinal unit and his experience of the care he received from the highly skilled medical and therapy team led him to become closely involved in the RNOH Charity. Over the years since, David has been an active fundraiser and we are hugely grateful to him for the funds he has raised that have gone on to help other patients.   

 Reflecting on his time at RNOH, David said: “I spent several months at RNOH after my accident, and the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s staff got me through that difficult time. I cannot praise the RNOH’s Spinal Cord Injury Centre enough – I had a hugely supportive medical team around me from the moment I arrived and was given fantastic support.” 

 We extend our thanks for the role David plays as the RNOH Charity’s Ambassador, in which he has raised over £100,000. He continues to support and fundraise for us and over the years has funded numerous projects ranging from the Davey Holmes vehicle to transport spinal cord-injured patients to fully furnishing a new patient room in the Stanmore Building; each of these and many other projects always enhance RNOH's services for patients. Most recently, David raised £5,000 towards the much-needed refurbishment of the Spinal Cord Injury Centre’s day room.

 As well as featuring many of the stars and crew of the Harry Potter films, the documentary also features members of the RNOH who have cared for David over the years. Everyone at RNOH and the RNOH Charity will be tuning in. We would like to congratulate David and wish him every success with the documentary and reiterate our thanks for his fundraising efforts for RNOH. The Documentary will be available to watch on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW from 18 November.

You too can support projects at the RNOH by making a donation today here.

Read more about David in The Guardian's extended interview  by Simon Hattenstone here.