By Eve Noon

A DUNDEE MAN last night told how he has fought back from a serious injury to gain top place in a British bodybuilding competition.

Harry Ogg (41) has taken part in weight training and physical exercise since he was a teenager, but in 1999 a work accident left him wheelchair- bound for three months.

Both his heels were smashed when he fell through a hatch and landed on steel decking while working as an electrician on a drilling ship in Brazil.

He had surgery on both to rebuild them, and nine years on has begun taking part in body building competitions.

On Saturday Harry came first in the intermediate over 80kg class at the UK Body Building and Fitness Federation Scottish Championships in Paisley.

He said, “It’s so hard to explain how I felt when I won because I really wasn’t expecting it. It’s a great feeling to have got first place though because I have had a fair journey to battle through to get to this level.

“It’s been a long haul, but nine years on I feel I am proof that even if people have a disability it doesn’t mean they can’t do anything anymore.”

He added, “Walking to begin with was with the aid of a Zimmer frame, then crutches then on to walking sticks and I still use one stick for stability.”

Harry added, “I’m still in constant pain with my subtalar joints, which the heels smashed into, but I control it with exercise at the gym, a good diet and good pain killers and anti-inflammatories.”

As his interest in fitness increased, the businessman opened Body Tone Warehouse in March last year, specialising in sports and bodybuilding supplements and gym clothing.

In January preparations for competitions started, which involved cardio sessions at the gym before opening the shop in the morning and weight training sessions after closing.

His efforts also bore fruit at the Nabba Mr Scotland competition in Edinburgh this month, when he achieved fourth place in the novice class.

He was presented with The Extreme Nutrition Award to recognise his efforts getting into competition form after such a serious injury.

His other competition this year was the Prolab Classic in Fife, where he came third in the first-timers’ class.

The next challenge is the UKBFF British Finals in October in Nottingham, which he qualified for after winning at the weekend.