A sporting fanatic from Eltham who became paralysed after a cycling accident in Oxleas Woods last year was joined by runners and cyclists en route to his final resting place last week (Monday, May 24).
Electrician Jose Barretta, 43, passed away on April 23, a year after he came off his bike over the handlebars while walking his dog Bradley, landing on his head and cracking his helmet.
Mr Barretta was an enthusiastic sportsman and had been a member of ICAS climbing group in Woolwich, Dulwich Runners and cycling club Dulwich Paragon, as well as holding a licence to dive and do solo parachute jumps.
When he met his wife Katherine Barretta, 35, she remembers that he offered to coach her for a 10k run she was training for when they met – and that he was running a half-marathon that weekend, just for fun.
She told News Shopper: “Jose’s accident just a year after our first anniversary was an incredible shock.
“Our action man – broken.”
Among his numerous injuries, Mr Barretta had a cracked skull, smashed vertebrae and crushed spinal cord.
The couple were told by doctors they had only ever seen this level of injury in an autopsy.
He was tetraplegic – meaning all four of his limbs were paralysed – and though he accepted that he wouldn’t walk again, his wife says he continued to do the things he enjoyed, meeting friends in pubs and going to the theatre and galleries.
And according to Mrs Barretta, he never lost his sense of humour.
She said: “Tell that to the student nurse in intensive care, who, just a week or so after Jose’s accident, tripped over a cable.
“When she picked up the loose end and asked if it was important, she saw Jose limp on his pillow pretending to be dead.”
He and his wife documented his progress and how he dealt with his paralysis in a blog called Zulu, a reference to the name paramedics gave him at Oxleas Woods before he was identified.
MORE TOP STORIES
Now she hopes his story can raise awareness of spinal injury and how quickly lives can change.
Mr Barretta went from cycling and climbing his way through Devon, Somerset, Wales and Cheddar to being confined to a wheelchair.
He had limited shoulder movement and no feeling below that point, and he couldn’t shout, laugh or cough or tilt or turn his head.
Mr Barretta needed a hospital bed, a hoist and other medical aids at home and was helped by a 24-hour live-in carer.
Mrs Barretta said: “Jose faced every challenge with dignity and determination. He was never angry about his accident nor embarrassed about his condition, about being spoon fed or drinking through a straw.
“Rather than complain, Jose was more likely to apologise for the effect his paralysis had on others.
“It is testament to his natural concern for others that he felt he was letting people down by not living up to their hopes that he would recover.
“Jose was incredible – Jose-Antonio Barretta is an inspiration.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here