Surfing helps veteran Tim turn his life around

A FORMER soldier from Saltash has said that discovering surfing has turned his life around - and he's now helping others to discover it for themselves.

- By HERALD REPORTER

Tim Stevens during his time with The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment

Tim Stevens, aged 50, said he was in a dark place after a life-changing incident in 2016, before Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes introduced him to surfing.

Tim joined the Royal Signals aged 16 before transferring to The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland during his 10 years of service.

After leaving the Army, in 2002, Tim spent five years in the prison service, at Dartmoor prison, before moving into the police.

But in 2016 his life was turned upside down. While he was taking his dog for a walk, Tim was attacked by a stranger.

The emotional and mental fallout left him in a very dark place with his relationships with his wife and children falling apart. Tim's mental health took a turn for the worse, he was feeling paranoid, highly emotional and was left with suicidal thoughts.