A PARAMEDIC seriously injured in a fatal ambulance crash has completed a life-changing challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Bransgore resident Rich Riley climbed Africa’s highest mountain to raise funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Rich credits the service with saving his life after his colleague and a patient were killed in a fatal ambulance crash on the A337 near Brockenhurst in 2013.

He suffered a broken neck, broken back, broken arm, punctured lung, broken ribs, broken shoulder and a damaged spleen in the crash.

As part of the challenge, Rich was joined by 35 others for the gradual four day climb to the summit in hot and humid conditions.

And despite the added test of altitude sickness, Rich reached the top in the early hours of Friday February 13.

He said: “I am very grateful to all who have supported me in raising money for the air ambulance.

“Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was genuinely the hardest thing I have ever done. Luckily the guides were able to carry my backpack when my back and neck were too painful.”

He added: “I think the fast response by the Air Ambulance and the skills of the medical team on board probably saved my life and what I have done is just my way of saying thank you. Anyone, anywhere, anytime could need their help and they need our support.”

His wife Natalie, who had followed his progress via Facebook posts, along with their son Jake, said: “We are so proud of Rich.

“He has overcome life-changing injuries, from which he is still recovering, to complete this very difficult trek.” He hopes to have raised more than £5,000 while the whole team hope their once in a lifetime climb will raise £153,000.