Billy is grateful to be alive - by Amber Wemyss 04 Aug 2021 Billy Hedderman and his wife, Rita, were enjoying the summer sun on New Year's Eve 2014. But, when he went back in the ocean to catch one last wave, the unthinkable happened - he was paralysed from the neck down. Following the release of his book, Unbowed, Billy shared his story with that's life! written in his own words. 'Look at where we are,’ I boasted to the camera. After panning my phone around to capture the beautiful blue water and clear skies, I sent the video to my family back home in Ireland.