Derek Herrera: US marine & tech entrepreneur

As a U.S. marine serving in Afghanistan, Captain Derek Herrera was, by his own assessment, at the “pinnacle of his career”. Everything changed on June 14, 2012 when he was shot by a sniper while leading a special operations team on patrol In Helmand province. He was paralysed from the chest down. Chronically disabled he left the military pursued his long held interest in medical technology. He was one of first people in the U.S. to use a wearable robotic exoskeleton, which enabled him to walk again. He’s now working on a medical device to help people with a condition known as Neurogenic bladder.  It affects affects people with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, dementia, spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders.

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Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night with Rhod Sharp.

One man turned his paralysis into a business to help others

Credit: Sgt Scott A Achtemeier

As a US marine serving in Afghanistan, Cpt Derek Herrera was, by his own assessment, at the “pinnacle of his career”. But everything changed 14 June 2012, when he was shot by a sniper while leading a special operations team on patrol in Helmand province. He was paralysed from the chest down. His military career was over, but his life was not. Herrera decided to leverage his experience with paralysis in the business world, getting a master’s of business administration and then launching his own medical technology business. 

Full story and video at BBC.COM