Never Will I Die

The inspiring Special Forces soldier who cheated death and learned to live again

By: Toby Gutteridge, Michael Calvin

Narrated by: Toby Gutteridge, Matt Chambers

Brought to you by Penguin.

There's no pain, no theatrical agony. No screaming, no shouting. The kill shot is catastrophic, yet surgically precise. I slumped silently on to my knees and toppled forward, head first, into the dirt. The lads had seen enough death to assume mine was instantaneous. The lights were out. That's him gone.

Toby Gutteridge was only 24 when he was shot through the neck while operating behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. He survived despite not breathing for at least 20 minutes. Back in the UK, doctors recommended that his life support machine be switched off, but with the defiant spirit that would define his recovery, Toby pulled through.

Now quadriplegic, capable of movement only with his head, Toby has rebuilt his life. His is an extraordinary story of survival against overwhelming odds, and of the power of the human spirit to overcome extreme adversity. Brutally honest and authentic, he builds a compelling picture of the type of person produced by the Special Forces system, and tells of how one split second changed the course of his life forever.

Powerful and inspiring, Never Will I Die is a universal story about our search for purpose, and explores what extreme experience teaches us about what truly matters.

© Toby Gutteridge 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Critic reviews

Toby's sheer grit and determination is a powerful testament to his character. His story demonstrates the true nature of inner strength and courage. I think he's an inspiration to all of us.

The inspiring soldier who never gave up.

'Inspirational. An amazing book.'

Visceral... utterly inspirational. A compelling tale of incredible determination. What makes this account of a journey to hell and back so fascinating is that the devastation of Gutteridge's body somehow triggered the unleashing of his mind.

Toby's truly humbling journey will realign your benchmark for the words determination, hero and inspiration.

Motivational and powerful.

'Toby has overcome more obstacle than anyone I know. His is a story of life triumphing over death, and shows the strength of the human spirit.'

'A truly inspiring story of an amazingly driven individual who refused to go quietly and fought back against all the odds.'

In international rugby we speak about putting your body on the line for your mates. Toby's inspirational story gives an unforgettable insight into the men who do that for real, in life or death situations. A remarkable book.

Nothing short of inspirational.

Cannot stop listening to Toby's story.

This book will change your life. It will inspire you with courage. Bless you Toby.

A giant and beacon of light, don’t skip this.

This well told, well read, gripping story of this incredible man’s journey of strength and determination under the most unimaginable circumstances takes the reader vividly on an emotional, vulnerable and truly awe inspiring ride. I could not put this down and listened through one weekend, his story and the one still unfolding, will forever stay with me.

For anyone who has experienced a dark night of the soul, this book will give you the ray of light to bring you through. Deep gratitude to Toby Gutteridge for reminding us that there are giants among us, beacons of light and no matter how impossible it may seem - you lead the way for all of us. Thank you for telling us like it is.

Outstanding

Everyone should read/listen to this book, you’d never complain about your life’s woes again, incredible how Toby has adapted to what life has thrown at him, and how he’s come out the other side on top.

Life Changing

Toby's insightful thoughts and words regarding life's lessons have impacted me at a time when I was experiencing doubt and fears. I rewound many sections to ingrain in my mind the passion with which he was conveying intense meaning, which I internalized. While I know it was difficult for Toby to put himself out there and write this book, I am thankful the he fulfilled his purpose to help others as he has changed my life in ways that will resonate for a life time. Thank you Toby.