Dumbarton nurse paralysed after 'picking up pen' faces charging elephants in epic African charity challenge

A Dumbarton mum who was left paralysed after 'bending over to pick up a pen' at work faced down charging elephants during an epic 300km charity challenge.

ICU nurse Michelle Moffatt slipped into depression and considered travelling to an assisted dying facility after suffering two prolapsed discs in her back - which began pressing on her nerves and spinal cord - while on shift at Glasgow’s Golden Jubilee Hospital in November 2019. The fitness fanatic was left paralysed below the waist following complications and was left wheelchair-bound.

The mum-of-four became convinced that she had become a 'burden' to her loved ones as her mental health took a turn for the worse, and she decided to travel to the Dignitas assisted dying facility in Switzerland in January 2022. However, the day before, she received a call from her GP, who told her about a peer-support charity called Spinal Injuries Scotland, which she credits with saving her life.

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The 42-year-old, alongside two other two other wheelchair users, has now become one of the first paraplegics to travel down the Zambezi River, which starts in Chirundu, Zambia, and finishes at the Mozambique border. Michelle, who took on the challenge to raise money for the charity, said: “It was such an incredible experience which I will never forget.

“A couple of years ago I was thinking about ending my own life. 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.”

Michelle, who is also a stoma bag wearer, was joined on the expedition by fellow paraplegics Shaun Gash from Lancashire and Liam Morris from Cumbria. But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the trio, as they faced 40C heat, hippos, crocodiles and even a pack of charging elephants.

Michelle added: “There were some incredible and really scary moments. Liam’s canoe capsized on the first day in a stretch of the river where there were hippos and crocodiles which was terrifying.

“An elephant also charged when he was catheterizing which had us all moving away very quick. But we also had some amazing close-up experiences with elephants and camped every night by the river, serenaded by the sounds of so many animals.

“The thing I will really take away though is the amazing bond our group formed and the brilliant people we met, who are so grateful for what they have even though they have so little.”

Chief Executive Louisa McGinn said: “We are just blown away by what Michelle, Shaun 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.”

The group, which has applied for a Guinness World Record, has already raised over £10,000 for Spinal Research and charity Whizz Kidz. They also donated equipment to a local orphanage school and mission hospital in Zambia.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.

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