A medical student left paralysed after falling from climbing a tree

A medical student and promising rugby player has been left paralysed after he broke his back when he fell out of his childhood tree.

Xander Van Der Poll, 19, was taking a study break and decided to walk his dog with his girlfriend when he spotted the ancient oak he used to scramble up as a youngster.

The 1st year medical student clambered up the tree but lost his footing and plunged 8ft to the ground smashing his back on the exposed roots on the ground.