Travis Frain

Travis Frain had just turned 19 and was on a university trip to London when he was caught up in the Westminster Bridge terror attack on 22 March 2017, in which five people tragically lost their lives and more than 50 were injured. Emergency funding after the attack enabled him to make a full physical recovery and restored his sense of independence. Travis tells his story.

It was the first full day of our course trip to London and we were visiting the Houses of Parliament. We were given half an hour of free time, so myself and the lads I was with decided to get some fresh air out on Westminster Bridge.

I was walking along the bridge texting a friend when one of the lads called out, “Travis, look out!” But by the time I looked up it was too late to react. A terrorist drove a 4 x 4 vehicle straight into us and I was knocked up over the bonnet into the air. I landed hard on the concrete and was really lucky that my head landed on my friend’s stomach. Every other part of the body that hit the ground was fractured.

I broke my left leg and almost all of the bones in my hand. I also had a severe laceration on my leg that was bleeding badly. I was taken by ambulance to Kings Hospital, where I spent eight days having operations on my leg and my hand. I received excellent care during those eight days I was in hospital. But when I left, that care really dropped off. I went back up North and was pretty much left to my own devices.

I had to leave my university accommodation and move back home so that my mum could assist in my recovery, and I spent the next five months on crutches and walking sticks learning to walk again. It was a humbling experience that put my whole life on pause. But I think that because I was so focused on my physical recovery, I didn’t suffer as badly from the psychological effects of the attacks as the other lads did. I didn’t have the headspace to run what had happened on that day over and over in my mind, like they did.

It was clear I needed intense physio to recover from my injuries, but sadly the NHS was only able to offer me something called ‘non-contact’ physio. Essentially printed sheets showing different exercises I could do. Private physio would be the only way I could get the help I really needed, but it wasn’t cheap, and I didn’t have spare money like that.

I decided to start using my student finance to cover my treatment, and also accepted donations from my friends and family. That part really got me down. I had already lost my physical independence and was now relying on others financially to get well again. I’m a proud person and it felt shameful to have to do that. It still does.

Then thankfully, after a few months, I was told I could receive emergency funding from the London Emergencies Trust, which had been collecting donations after the attack. That changed everything. It took away the financial worry and gave me back my independence and self-esteem. I could finally pay for the physio I needed, and I spent the next two years getting hands-on sessions that helped me to make a full recovery.

I have felt first-hand what a difference emergency funding can make to someone at an awful time in their life. The London Emergencies Trust funding made a huge difference to me back in 2017. Now, we have the National Emergencies Trust, a charity that can respond to incidents anywhere in the UK. Not just in London. They quickly raise funds that go directly to the people most affected. To help them to recover from their injuries, take away their added financial worries, and help them get on with their lives.

I was at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust in 2019 and am very proud to support the work they do today. I hope sharing my story helps people see what a difference a donation could make to someone’s life.

Travis Frain is a valued member of the National Emergencies Trust’s Survivors Advisory Forum which advises the charity on how best to support those affected by emergencies. He’s also the Founder of the Resilience in Unity project, which shares stories of those affected by terrorism to create better future outcomes.

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