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A year after cheating death in a mountain bike accident, quadriplegic Paul Curtis has taken daughter Hannah down the aisle.

The 20-stone former Harlequin broke his neck having hurtled downhill on a mountain bike into a tree.

As he lay fighting for his life he turned to his best pal and said: “If I don’t get through this, walk my daughter down the aisle.”

Now he has beaten the odds to be able do it himself.

(Image: South Wales Evening Post)

Paul Curtis was determined to carry out official father-of-the-bride duties by being at his daughter Hannah’s side at her marriage to fiancee Liam Bracher.

And he also prepared an emotional speech which he shared with guests at the Oxwich Bay Hotel.

The festivities came just over a year since Mr Curtis broke his neck after hurtling downhill on a mountain bike and into a tree.

A father-of-three, he had faced many collisions on the pitch, but this incident also left him with damage to his spine and right lung, and paralysed half his diaphragm.

(Image: South Wales Evening Post)

At 6ft 2ins and weighing 20 stone, Paul – nicknamed Titch – was too big for a helicopter.

But the 57-year-old did make it to University of Wales Hospital where he stayed for the next seven months.

The smash left the dad of three with a broken neck and damaged spine. He paralysed half his right diaphragm and ruined half his right lung.

Medics had initially feared for his life, and Paul had asked his best friend to walk his daughter down the aisle for him if he did not pull through.

But with support from his family, who live in Penclawdd, and health professionals, he fought back, determined to see daughter Hannah down the aisle.

He said: “I am just really excited to be here at her wedding. I did not expect it to happen.

“We’ve had to work out the logistics of being here, and finding somewhere capable of dealing with me overnight, but once we found that out, everything started to fall into place.

“I am emotional about having to give my daughter away. I’m nervous about having to make a speech, which is somewhat daunting.

“I’ve been married to my wife Rhian for 28 years, and she doesn’t normally let me speak for more than 30 seconds of a time, so yes it will be daunting.”

Wife Rhian added: “We have been very lucky with local carers and district nurses who have made this day possible. They stepped in at the last moment and provided a service which is second to none.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey, with the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows.

“Paul’s strength and determination makes me totally in awe of him. He is my hero.”

And daughter Hannah added: “It has been a long year. I did not think this would happen, so the fact it has actually happened is magical.

“There was a point when I did not think dad would be here. Me and Liam have been together for 11 years so it meant a lot for us to do this, and the fact dad is here is just lovely.”

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Meanwhile, the family are trying to raise £100,000 to convert their home for Paul.

Rugby players Will Carling, Mick Skinner, Peter Winterbottom and Mike Teague are amongst those helping by taking part in a fundraising bike ride cycling 70 miles from Bognor Rugby Club to the Harlequins ground.

To help visit: www.paulcurtisfund.com