Charging elephants and capsizing in hippo-filled waters … just two of the dangers overcome by three wheelchair adventurers who have become the first paraplegics to canoe nearly 300km down the Zambezi River.
Wheechair bound Shaun Gash, Michelle Moffatt and Liam Morris completed the world beating African expedition in just seven days, starting at Chirundu in Zambia and finishing at the Mozambique border.
The intrepid trio spent up to seven hours a day in canoes in searing heat, facing everything from crocodiles to pressure sores. Camping by the riverside each night, the team and local support crew carried wheelchairs, equipment, tents and medical supplies in their canoes on the 280km expedition.
Liam, from Askham-in-Furness, Cumbria, was paralysed from the waist down in a motorcross accident 11 years ago. The instrumentation engineer at BAE Systems in Barrow has not let his disability stop him from pursuing a range of sports – from wheelchair racing to table tennis.
His canoe capsized on the first day in waters where only a month previously a British tourist suffered multiple injuries after being attacked by a hippo. The 34-year-old Lancaster Bulldogs wheelchair basketball player was also charged by an elephant while catheterizing.
“The first day had been going so well and then suddenly one of the guides in a canoe infront shouted ‘hippo’ and the next thing we struck something and my guide and I were flipped into the water,” said Liam, whose father Darren was with him on the expedition.
“The tents, wheelchair everything went into the water. We had actually struck a tree stump but didn’t know that at the time so it was pretty scary. I think I also set a land speed record in my wheelchair when the elephant charged!”
“I’ve done many challenges but this was by far the most life-affirming. I’ll take away new friendships, a host of amazing memories and the knowledge that we have potentially changed the lives of so many people. I hope we have shown people that disability is not a barrier to achieving epic things. We’ve applied for a Guinness World Record and are aiming to raise a lot for two great charities.”
Shaun, challenge organiser
Paraplegic amputee Shaun Gash organised the Rolling Down The Zambezi challenge. Paralysed from the chest down aged just 20 when he was a back seat passenger in a car accident, the father of three from Morecambe, Lancashire, has completed a series of epic challenges including skydiving, adaptive scuba diving, summiting Kilimanjaro and completing 100KM–plus obstacle courses raising thousands for charity.
Shaun, 53, said: “I’ve done many challenges but this was by far the most life-affirming. I’ll take away new friendships, a host of amazing memories and the knowledge that we have potentially changed the lives of so many people.
“I hope we have shown people that disability is not a barrier to achieving epic things. We’ve applied for a Guinness World Record and are aiming to raise a lot for two great charities.”
The trio are raising money for Spinal Research and Whizz Kidz and also donated equipment to a local orphanage school and hospital in Zambia.
Former critical care nurse Michelle Moffatt’s life changed in an instant when she bent down to pick up a pen on a night shift at Glasgow’s Golden Jubilee Hospital in 2019.
A prolapsed disc had gone into her spinal cord. Post-surgery complications then caused a bleed on her spine leaving the Mum-of-four from Dumbarton paralysed from the waist down.
“It was such an incredible experience which I will never forget,” said Michelle. “A couple of years ago I was thinking about ending my own life because I couldn’t see how it could be worthwhile.
“So to be able to do this, to help others and to give something back is just mind blowing. My mindset has completely changed and I hope I’m showing my kids that no matter what challenges you face in life, you do your best and anything is possible.”
Every two hours someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury. It can happen to anyone at any time with devastating consequences. Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research to develop and deliver effective new treatments.
Chief Executive Louisa McGinn said: “We are just blown away by what Shaun, Michelle and Liam have achieved. It is truly inspirational and we hope that people will support their remarkable efforts by donating.
“Today, for the first time, we are in touching distance of function restoring treatments for people paralysed after a spinal cord injury and so every single donation brings our vision of curing paralysis a step closer.”
To support Liam, Shaun and Michelle go to the Rolling Down The Zambezi GoFundMe page https://bit.ly/3KlkEr5
