Near-death experiences provide new insights for many people. For Darrell Poole, that insight was necprotech.

In 1998 New Zealander Darrell Poole, an avid rock climber, almost fell to his death on a rock-climbing trip when his belayer - the climber’s buddy who controls the rope from the ground to keep the climber from falling - took his eye off Darrell because of a sore neck from looking up for too long.

Darrell was 10 meters up and fell almost six meters before his belayer was able to gain control of the rope again. It was a scary experience that prompted Darrell into finding a solution to prevent the same thing happening to him again, and to others.

AN INVENTION WAS BORN

Months of searching for a neck support system for those who spend a lot of time looking up proved fruitless. So Darrell took matters into his own hands - literally - and invented his own neck support system using some plastic, foam and the oven in his kitchen.

The invention was so well received by his climbing buddies that Darrell decided to take his idea further. He enlisted the help of his businessman friend, Nigel King, to develop the product and take it to market.

NECK PROTECTION NOT JUST FOR CLIMBERS

After extensive research on neck pain, strain and injuries, it became clear that rock climbers were not the only ones who needed such a neck support system. Neck problems and injuries were also very common at work, especially for those in the trades: painters, plasterers, builders, electricians, window cleaners, boat builders, automobile workers, and so on.

So Managing Director, Nigel King, partnered up with an industrial designer with the brief that the neck support system had to effectively support the neck, be comfortable to wear for long periods, and be robust enough to use on a daily basis. The first prototype was developed in 2001. And after years of rigorous testing, redevelopment and several prototypes later, the final product was created.

AWARD-WINNING NECK SUPPORT SYSTEM

necprotech became a Dragons Den winner in 2006, and since its launch into the UK and Europe in 2008, it has also won the Charles Godfrey Innovation of the Year 2008 award, received a Second Place award (Highly Commended) at the prestigious British Safety Industry Awards 2009, and won various product awards from various industry publications.

necprotech is now one of the most effective neck support systems in the world.

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