Home / Health / GP Warns: 'Fit to Do' Letters May End After Skydiving Tragedy
GP Warns: 'Fit to Do' Letters May End After Skydiving Tragedy
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A student suffered a broken neck after medical clearance for skydiving.
- The paralyzed student is seeking £15 million in damages for her injury.
- Doctors may stop issuing 'fit to do things' letters due to this incident.
An alarming incident involving a paralyzed student has led an NHS GP to predict the end of "fit to do things" letters issued by doctors. Miriam Barker, a 21-year-old university student, suffered a severe spinal cord injury and a broken neck during a skydive, despite having received medical clearance.
Barker, who was approved for the jump at Dunkeswell Airfield, is now seeking £15 million in damages. The severity of her "catastrophic" injury has prompted Dr. Tim Mercer to voice concerns about the practice of GPs signing off on potentially dangerous activities.
Dr. Mercer stated he would no longer issue such letters, questioning his qualification to assess fitness for extreme sports like skydiving, scuba diving with sharks, or climbing Mount Everest. This case highlights potential future changes in how medical professionals handle clearance for high-risk recreational pursuits.
