JK Rowling defends paralysed man Henry Fraser on Twitter calling troll an 'imbecile'

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JK Rowling defended Serena Williams on Twitter following her win
Internet troll accused Wimbledon champion of being 'built like a man'
Hours later Rowling tweeted her support for 23-year-old paralysed painter
He was told he 'should have died' after sea jump that severed his spine

Published: 13:20 EST, 13 July 2015 | Updated: 16:29 EST, 13 July 2015

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JK Rowling has jumped to the defence of a paralysed 23-year-old who paints with his mouth after a troll said he 'should have died'.

The author showed her support for Henry Fraser, from Watford, Hertfordshire, in a Twitter exchange just hours after she supported tennis star Serena Williams, who was accused of being 'built like a man'.

Mr Fraser, who was paralysed from the shoulders down after diving into shallow waters as a teenager, is a successful painter whose work includes a portrait of Harry Potter .

Henry Fraser, 23, from Watford, Hertforshire, learnt to paint with his mouth after he was paralysed as a teenager. Above, Henry with artwork of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, 49, defended Henry Fraser just hours after slamming an internet troll who directed body-shaming comments at Serena Williams

The woman, named as Laura, sent him an email after his story appeared online.

She wrote: 'I can't believe how stupid you are – you deserve to not be able to use your arms and legs.

'In fact you should have died for being able to throw your life away like that. I'm not stupid enough to dive in shallow water. Glad what you went through was tough.'

Mr Fraser - who is the younger brother of Saracens rugby union flanker Will Fraser - replied: 'I hope that you do not have to go through what I've been through. It's pretty tough x'

Then he published the email exchange online, along with the comment: 'I'm not sure she liked my response. Maybe if I put more kisses she might turn?'

Ms Rowling quickly came forward to defend him, tweeting: 'Fate shoved you through an unexpected door and you lit the way for others. I wonder how Laura would fare on the other side.'

Henry tweeted a poisonous message received from a woman known only as 'Laura' who told him he 'deserved' not to be able to use his arms or legs and that he should have died after diving into shallow water

Henry, who enjoyed art at school, produces portraits in pencil and watercolours using just his mouth

Henry had already produced this Harry Potter painting when author JK Rowling jumped to his defence

Her tweet was republished hundreds of times with Mr Fraser replying: 'Thank you, thank you, extremely kind.'

Rowling then sent a second tweet: 'Truth. Fate could come for any of us, at any time. The imbeciles who don't know that, cave fastest when it happens. Big love X'

Speaking of the initial email, Mr Fraser said: 'I was shocked someone would behave that way.'

He was 17 when he jumped into the sea in Luz, Portugal, while on holiday with friends in July 2009.

He mistimed the leap and smashed his head on the seabed, dislocating four vertebrae in his neck.

'It was the third day,' he recalled. 'I jumped in as I had done the day before. But then I woke up face-down in the water. I couldn't move although I could talk. I was drowning.

Henry has also produced art of Andy Murray, left, and Usain Bolt, right, earning praise on social media

'My friends realised I couldn't move and pulled me out the sea. It was terrifying.'

Alone and frightened, he was airlifted to hospital in Lisbon for emergency surgery.

'I was horrified,' he said. 'I felt horrendous. I was a fit and healthy teenager. I was very strong. I played rugby. I exercised and biked six times a week.

'I was really low in hospital. There was a really bad day but then I realised I had to get on with it. I had to move on. I had to get on with living.'

Mr Fraser's parents Francesca and Andrew, both 54, flew home with their son and he spent months at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire recovering.

Henry Fraser, pictured in hospital, was paralysed after jumping into shallow water, smashing his head on the seabed and dislocating four vertebrae in his neck

He then returned to Dulwich College in South East London – completing A-levels in PE and economics. He went on to write for Sky and the Saracens rugby team.

'You just have to get on with it,' he said. 'I did physiotherapy for a bit but then got a personal trainer. I wanted to be as fit as possible, although I am still paralysed and in a wheelchair.'

Mr Fraser enjoyed art at school and decided to take it up again this year.

'At the beginning of this year I was in stuck in bed ill,' he said. 'I was really bored and looked at my iPad which I use for writing.

'I found a drawing app and used a stick in my mouth to draw on it. I realised I could do it and enjoyed it. As soon as I was better I decided to get some paper out and carry on drawing.

JK Rowling jumped in to defend Mr Fraser, writing: Truth. Fate could come for any of us, at any time. The imbeciles who don't know that, cave fastest when it happens. Big love x'

Mr Fraser was 17 and on holiday with friends in Luz, Portugal, when the incident happened. Pictured before the accident left and right

'I do portraits in pencil and watercolours in paints. I try to paint a couple a week. I take commissions from friends.

Geoff Parling, who plays rugby for England, also requested a picture. I am making money out of it.'

His work included portraits of Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis Hill, earning him praise on social media. Gabby Logan described his picture of Andy Murray as 'incredible' while Charlie Brooker and Susanna Reid also applauded his talents.

JK Rowling's comments came just hours after she fought Serena William's corner following her win at Wimbledon.

A troll, who had attributed William's tennis success to her being 'built like a man', was quickly shamed by 49-year-old Rowling, who branded them an 'idiot'.

JK Rowling had waded into an explosive exchange involving her friend Serena Williams just hours before she defended Mr Fraser

'"she is built like a man". Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You're an idiot.' The author reacted to the body-shaming comment with these photographs of Serena

'It is a great feeling': Serena Williams on Wimbledon win