A CHELSEA man paralysed after being swept down a mountain side in an avalanche is to climb the same mountain again after a miraculous recovery.
Paul Stewart, of Kings Road, was sent plummeting off a 200ft cliff by an avalanche in December 2008. The life changing fall injured Paul’s spinal cord, leaving him paralysed from the waist down and doctors told him he would never walk again.
Today, Paul is still paralysed below the knees but after years of gruelling rehabilitation he can walk with the aid of sticks, despite having no feeling or sensation as he takes each step.
The 32-year-old is now in the middle of his IronSpine Challenge, comprising a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile cycle, a 26.2 mile walk and a cliff-face climb.
Paul said: “I’m nervous but pig headed enough to remain determined to crack this challenge. The most frightening part for me will obviously be the climb of the mountain that nearly broke me all those years ago as I haven’t been to the site since it happened.
“Maybe it’s a bit of arrogance or naivety but when I was in hospital after the fall I just cherry picked the positive comments from the doctors and completely ignored anything they said about not being able to walk again. I have played sport all my life so it was inconceivable to think I would have to stop.”
Paul is raising money for spinal injury research and has so far reached £330,000 of his £400,000 target.
He added: “I’m excited and scared but I will complete this challenge through sheer determination and with family and friends’ support, knowing that the funds raised along the way will help find a cure for spinal cord injury.”
Paul will be flying to France on Monday. His destination is La Plagne in the Alps where he was caught by the avalanche which swept him off the side of a mountain.
