Double amputee boy, aged 5, starts 10km walk on crutches for NHS

A five-year-old boy, who had both his legs amputated because of abuse inflicted on him as a baby, has been inspired by Captain Tom to walk 10km to raise money for the NHS.

Tony Hudgell, aged five, has started a 10km walk on crutches to raise money for the hospital that saved his life. Credit: Paula Hudgell.

Little Tony Hudgell began his epic 10km fundraising walk on crutches on 1 June and has, to date (8 June), raised almost £300,000 for the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, which saved his life when he was five-weeks-old.

‘Never ever thought going to a mainstream school would be possible’

Tony Hudgell was never expected to survive the horrific injuries inflicted on him as a baby or go on to a mainstream school but, against all odds, he did both.

Tony Hudgell’s first weeks of life were a battle for survival because of abuse from his birth parents which caused him to suffer multiple fractures and multiple organ failure that left him fighting for his life at 41 days old.

A judge described him as being "seconds away from death" when he was seen by a doctor as a five-week-old baby. His birth parents Jody Simpson and Anthony Smith went to prison for 10 years in 2018 for the abuse he suffered.

Once Tony was discharged from hospital at four months old, he was put into the foster care of Paula and Mark Hudgell, who later adopted him.

Both his legs later had to be surgically removed in 2017 because of the extreme injuries he suffered during the first few weeks of his life.

The abuse Tony suffered as a baby has led to him sustaining injuries that include a left hip dislocation, a missing ball joint due to infection, hand problems and deafness in his right ear.

But Tony surprised his proud parents when he outgrew his pre-school to begin school at The Discovery School in Kings Hill, last September.

His mother Paula Hudgell told Kent Online at the time: "In the early days we never, ever thought going to a mainstream school would be possible - we didn't know how much brain damage had been caused.

"He'd totally outgrown the pre-school. The whole journey has been a rollercoaster from day one so to reach a milestone like this is incredibly emotional."

‘Confident little boy who loves life’

Tony was fitted with his first pair of artificial legs earlier this year.

The five-year-old boy from West Malling in Kent, decided to walk every day in June until he reached 10km, to raise money for the hospital, after watching 100-year-old Captain Tom use a walking frame to complete 100 laps around his garden to fundraise for the NHS.

Mrs Hudgell said: “Tony has been trying so hard with his crutches and it's gruelling for him. But then he saw Captain Tom on the news and said "Look, he's like me."

“I can never repay the doctors, nurses and staff at the Evelina for what they did for him in those early days, and continue to do as part of his on-going treatment.

“The positive side to this is he is today a bright, happy, confident little boy who loves life.

“Over the last week, he has been learning to walk on his new legs with crutches and he wanted to raise some pennies for the wonderful hospital The Evelina Children’s Hospital. This may seem an easy task but for him this is a huge mountain to climb.”

On 7 June, Mrs Hudgell posted on Tony’s JustGiving page: “Day 7 of our 10km walk and Bear has reached a staggering 2.8km”.

Having already exceeded his £500 target, with donations reaching £180,000 on Sunday 7 June, she said: “This will make a huge difference to other children and Bear for ongoing care there, we are truly humbled. Please keep following, donating and sharing”.

To sponsor Tony Hudgell's 10km walk in aid of Evelina London Children's Hospital, you can visit his JustGiving page.