Former Leeds student accepts BRIT award

Ed Buckley collected an award at the BRIT awards in London on behalf of the music charity Nordoff Robbins.

The 24-year-old was studying to be a pilot at Leeds University when he was hit by a speeding taxi in January 2012. He sustained a severe head trauma and life threatening injuries.

His family were told it is likely that he would die, however after six months of being in a coma, he began to wake up.

Nordoff Robbins is a music therapy charity that works with people who have suffered brain injuries. Ed is one person who has benefitted from their work.

Ed accepting his award

He was visited every week in hospital by music therapist Jessica who helped him to play piano chords and encouraged him to sing.

Ed had to relearn to walk again after the accident, which Jessica helped him with by banging a drum with a marching rhythm.

When collecting this award at the Brits, Ed said: “I’m here today accepting this award as a Nordoff Robins ambassador and I’m very proud of that. I was lucky enough to be in a hospital where there was a therapist working.

“There are lots of people around the country, both young children and adults, where music therapy will give them a lifeline that they might need and it’s very powerful. Thank you.”

Ed was presented the award by Chris Martin from Coldplay – when discovering that Ed was a massive Coldplay fan he was given six tickets to see the band perform in June this year.

CEO of Nordoff Robbins, Julie Whelan, said: “We were thrilled to have Chris Martin present Ed with our award on the night ; in 2013 Ed spoke at our Silver Clef Awards, a year in which Coldplay were award recipients at the event.

“Chris had a read about Ed’s story and after meeting that night they have remained in contract, so it was a very special moment to see the two of them come together again at the BRITs and celebrate music therapy in this way.”

Ed is now studying Aerospace Technology at the University of Hertfordshire.