'I'm happier now than before I lost my sight'

In 2024 Nomaan Iqbal won a silver medal at the blind baseball International Cup

A former plumber who suddenly lost his eyesight four years ago has said he feels "happier" now despite the life-changing setback.

Nomaan Iqbal, from Sheffield, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in 2021 and spent six months in hospital, including five weeks in an induced coma. Waking from his coma he discovered he was blind.

The married father-of-two has gone on to excel in partially sighted sports and has represented Great Britain in blind baseball.

He said: "Something happened when I left the hospital. I don't know where I got this mentality from but I said to myself whatever happens you're not gonna stay like this."

Although the 37-year-old has little memory of his time in the Northern General Hospital, his wife Nadia recalls the period.

"We thought it was Covid so he was sleeping in the spare room," she said.

"He was complaining of a sore neck and his vision upside down."

Within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital, he was placed in an induced coma.

The former plumber spent six months in hospital, including five weeks in a coma

Nadia remembers the moment doctors allowed her to see him.

"I just froze. I saw the tubes and machines and burst into tears," she said.

"It was so traumatic. I've never seen him like that. He's always been fit and healthy."

Nomaan can remember waking from the coma with a shattering discovery.

"I realised I couldn't walk or talk or see," he said.

Nomaan's children now fight to see who can hold their father's hand and 'steer' him across the road

Nomaan was moved to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield for rehab where his speech and movement in his legs slowly returned, but his eyesight never did.

He is now completely blind in his left eye and has between five to 10% vision in his right eye.

On returning home, he realised life would never be the same.

"It was my wake-up call. I knew I had to get through this and do something different," he said.

"I needed to be an example to my daughter and my son. That was my motivation."

Support was provided in the first few months by an NHS personal assistant and the charity Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind, which encouraged Nomaan to try blind and partially sighted sports including blind football.

He said: "I used to love football and I thought this could be a new thing for me but I didn't like it because I used to have skills and now I couldn't even kick the ball."

Blind tennis and baseball proved more successful and Sheffield Strikers blind baseball founder Jordan Hayles took Nomaan under his wing.

According to Jordan, he was a "natural".

"Nommy was dealt a terrible hand but his attitude is inspirational. He's so positive.

"He's naturally athletic too and super fast so perfect for baseball."

Blind baseball sees players hit balls with bells, before running around bases which have unique sounds.

Both friends were selected to represent Great Britain in blind baseball at the International Cup held in Farnham Park in Slough, Nomaan's home town.

His extended family came along to watch the "proud" dad pick up a silver medal.

"I couldn't believe it," he said.

"It was my home town so it was meant to be."

Nomaan with wife Nadia and their two children

Alongside his newfound love of partially sighted sports, the former plumber has also built up a following on social media where he's hoping to "inspire" other blind and partially sighted people.

"On TikTok I call myself Mr Blind because I have to see it as my super power," he said.

"This is my strength now. I've learned more about myself now in these last few years than I ever did. I'm happier now than I was before."

For Nadia, despite the highs, the last few years have required a huge adjustment.

"There have been some down days. I've really struggled," she said.

"It's hard because when we got married he had 20/20 vision and then four years later, boom it's gone and I'm literally taking care of the kids alone.

"But I love him. I see this as my duty."

For the couple's two young children since their father came home from hospital, life has been a steep learning curve.

"At first my little boy couldn't understand why I couldn't read him a bedtime story but now I make up stories for him, we do it together," Nomaan said.

"When we go out, they use my hand as a steering wheel.

"So when they're holding my hand, if I need to move left, they'll move it left. If I need to stop and brake, they'll push it backwards."

Nadia added: "They fight over who gets to hold his hand now."

The Blind Baseball World Cup will take place in Japan in 2027 - and Nomaan has set his heart on being there.

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