A SKYDIVER who was left paralysed in a horrific parachuting accident says he hopes to jump again as he battles to rebuild his life.

Former Bishop Wordsworth's School pupil Bob Soutar had completed more than 1,340 parachute jumps when disaster struck in Spain last January after his canopy collapsed.

Now, following a 14-month stay in the spinal unit at Salisbury District Hospital, Mr Soutar has finally been able to go home - and he says he still wants to be involved with the sport he loves.

The 50-year-old did his first jump for charity in 1983 and soon became addicted to skydiving, taking part in a host of competitions.

As a member of Netheravon skydiving club, he came second in the 2002 national championships and was part of a team that set an 11-man canopy stack record that still stands today.

But last January, Mr Soutar suffered terrible injuries in a freak accident near Barcelona.

"I had done about 250 jumps with that canopy and it opened normally," he said.

"But as I was coming in to land, I went through some turbulence and, as I tried to brake, one side of the canopy collapsed and I went cartwheeling out of control."

Mr Soutar crash-landed on his head, suffering a dislocated neck, which caused him to be almost completely paralysed.

"When I went into the spinal unit, I couldn't move my legs or arms and had only a little mobility in my shoulders," he said.

He underwent intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy, finally regaining some movement in his shoulders and left arm.

During his stay, he received regular visits from his mother, Marjorie, who lives in Harnham, and parish vicar the Rev David Scrace.

"I had great support, which meant a lot," said Mr Soutar. "The nursing staff at the hospital were terrific. All the staff did so much for me, but I'm so glad to be home with no more hospital food!"

Friends of Mr Soutar helped to raise money for his ongoing physiotherapy through a 42-mile sponsored walk and he has gone back to work part-time at his IT training business.

"I have to look to the future," he said. "I'm hoping to build things up as time goes by."

This weekend, Mr Soutar, who now lives in Wilton, near Burbage, will be going on a training course to learn how to judge skydiving competitions.

"I still know a lot of people in the sport and I want to be involved," he said. "I hope I can jump again one day - I would like to. I was totally bitten by the skydiving bug.

"It is my sport and I hope I can still play a part in it."