Man paralysed in crash to climb Wales' highest peak

A man who was left paralysed from the waist down following a life-threatening road crash is preparing to climb Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, to raise money for the air ambulance that saved him.

Dale Muffett, 33, from Portsmouth, was jogging in the city in 2021 when he was hit by a car leaving him with internal bleeding, a collapsed lung, a traumatic brain injury and severe spinal damage.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance critical care team performed a life-saving surgical procedure on his chest and gave him a blood transfusion at the scene.

Mr Muffett said: "No-one knows who is going to end up needing the air ambulance."

He is raising money towards the £3.6m Operation Airbase appeal to relocate the service's airbase to a new, purpose-built facility near Southampton Airport.

Since the crash, he has gone on to get married and completed multiple wheelchair marathons including the London and Brighton where he became the first person to finish in a racing chair.

But his biggest challenge awaits on 29 June when he takes on Wales' highest mountain.

Mr Muffett will ascend the nine-mile Llanberis Path using his specially adapted mountain trike wheelchair.

"It's going to be a special trip," he said.

"I climbed Snowdon about eight years ago, so to return now in my trike will be emotional.

"Were it not for the skills and knowledge of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance team, I either wouldn't be here today or would be living with a much worse brain injury.

"No-one knows who is going to end up needing the air ambulance – today, tomorrow, or the next day."

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