A remarkable medic at London Ambulance Service is hoping for another call-up to the England Deaf Women’s Rugby Union team next month.
Emergency Medical Technician Zoe Cox has already earned five international caps since making her debut in South Africa in 2024.
She now hopes to be part of the national team flying to Jamaica for a test match series in February.
Discovering she was deaf
Zoe only discovered she was deaf when mask-wearing during the pandemic made lip-reading impossible.
Until then, the 28-year-old, had lived her entire life compensating for her severe hearing loss without anyone realising she was deaf.
But when face coverings became mandatory during COVID, she could no longer rely on visual clues to communicate.
She said: “I didn’t know any different. At school I was always getting in trouble and getting moved to the front – but that was the only way I could follow.
“I thought I was really naughty. But now I realise how hard I was working to adapt.”
Sport as a refuge
Sport was a refuge. She was brilliant at it and she could rely on gestures and body language to communicate. She played football and then rugby.
She became so good at masking her disability, she was able to complete a degree and worked as a physiotherapist with England rugby and as a PE teacher before joining London Ambulance Service. She continued to play rugby throughout.
But only during COVID, did she find out she was deaf in both ears and fitted with hearing aids.
She said: “It was miraculous. I could suddenly hear things I didn’t know existed before. Like finding out just how loud the ambulance sirens are!”
Overcoming challenges
Zoe was initially worried the diagnosis might threaten her career but instead continued to find ways to adapt and seek adjustments.
She also found a mentor in Richard Webb-Stevens, a deaf paramedic at London Ambulance Service, who helped her navigate the practical and emotional challenges of her work.
Rugby and resilience
When she’s not on an ambulance, she is training at the gym and with her rugby team. Her determination and skill eventually earned her a place on the England Deaf Women’s Rugby Union team in August 2024.
She represented England in South Africa and will soon find out if she has been selected to compete in Jamaica.
She said: “In rugby, I don’t need to hear everything to play. I can read the game and read the players and trust my instincts.
“Those instincts also help with my patients. Not everyone can tell you what’s wrong – they might not know or might not have the words. Being able to read people can make all the difference.”
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