Archie Wills-Johnson was just a year into his biology degree when he suffered the life-changing injury while playing for the University’s American Football team - Bristol Barracuda. Mid-way through a match, during a tackle, Archie felt a ‘big electric shock’ down his right arm, which only got worse when he continued to get them at home.
After a series of scans, doctors revealed that Archie had suffered a herniated disc in his neck. This meant the cartilage between two of his vertebrae had prolapsed, pushing against his spinal cord.
“The doctors told me that without treatment, the excruciating electric shocks would continue and I could end up paralysed if I risked playing contact sport again,” Archie said. “It was hard to hear, but I had to face the reality of it.”
Archie underwent an emergency operation. “The surgeons went through my neck at the front and took out the cartilage between my fifth and sixth vertebrae,” Archie explained. “They replaced it with titanium and screwed it in place. It was frightening but I knew I had no choice.”
Though the surgery was successful in stopping the progression of the injury, Archie’s recovery has been far from easy. Two and a half years later, Archie still suffers from chronic nerve pain in his arm.
The emotional toll of the injury was also significant. American football had been a major part of Archie’s life, but the doctors had made it clear: playing again was simply not an option. However, rather than let this setback define him, Archie redirected his passion for the sport into coaching and leadership. He returned to the Bristol Barracuda as the team's coach and vice president.
"I couldn't play but I still loved being involved with the team," Archie said. "I became a coach, and I started the flag football team – a form of non-contact American Football to help injured players back in so they could train doing something that's slightly less risky and get their strength back up. It wasn’t the same as playing but I was able to stay connected to the sport and the community that meant so much to me."
Growing up in Gloucestershire, Archie was the first in his family to attend university. His journey to higher education was not an easy one as he came from an area with low progression to university, but Archie’s determination and resilience shone through, both academically and personally, helping him secure a place at Bristol to study Biology.
During his time at Bristol, Archie has achieved a number of academic successes. His third-year project, which mapped the distribution of mammals across Zanzibar, has been written up as a research paper and is under a second round of peer review.
Reflecting on the work, he explained: “We collaborated with local schools and researchers to identify key areas for further ecological assessment, helping the government prioritise regions for protection against development. I'm passionate about finding the balance between human development and environmental preservation—how we can meet our needs for food and infrastructure without causing unnecessary harm to the planet."
Archie also credits Bristol’s Career Service for introducing him to Not Impossible, a charity who connects students to local businesses. The charity helped him secure three valuable work placements in environmental management. “They gave me some amazing opportunities by allowing me to meet people from different companies and gain exposure to various industries within the sector I care about,” he said.
For his master’s research, he worked with Wildfarmed, a sustainable agriculture start‑up co-owned by Andy Cato of the band Groove Armada. The company aims to make farming more sustainable and less damaging to soil and biodiversity, for example by reducing chemical inputs. During his research, Archie worked within a project investigating whether regenerative farming benefits insect populations.
Speaking of his time at Bristol, Archie said: “I've loved my time at Bristol. I felt that I've fully taken part in all the different facets of university life. I want to thank all the people who made my university experience what it was. From the academics and coaches who helped me to the friends I made along the way, you’ve all been amazing. I will always be grateful for my time here. Life will always give you setbacks but by showing resilience you can bounce back from the challenges and make the most of your situation. From rock bottom, the only way is up.”
Last year, Archie, who can no longer play contact sports given the risk of injury, was awarded an Outstanding PLUS Award from the University for his perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.
Professor Nick Roberts, Head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: “We are extremely proud to see Archie graduate. He has demonstrated incredible resilience thought his degree and has helped create such a positive environment in his year group. He is an inspiration to others, and we wish him all the best for the future.”