A PARATROOPER who suffered life-changing injuries after being shot in the head during a tour of Afghanistan has scaled Mount Snowdon to raise money for a charity which supports airborne soldiers.

Injured soldier Daniel ‘Eddy’ Edwards, a member of 3 Para based in Colchester, and a group of friends reached the 1km high peak of the Welsh mountain on Saturday.

They were cheered over the line by crowds of well-wishers and friends as they climbed the last 19 steps to the summit.

It is the second time within a year Eddy has taken on the challenge of climbing the highest peak in England and Wales, falling at the final hurdle last year.

Gazette:

  • Team Eddy at last year's climb

So far, Team Eddy has raised almost £4,000 for Support Our Paras, the charity which supports airborne veterans and serving soldiers across the country.

Eddy joined the Army in 2007 at the age of 16, starting out at Harrogate Military College.

He transferred to the Para Depot where he passed his P Company tests before joining Colchester’s 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment.

In 2010, he went out to Afghanistan with the regiment for his first combat mission.

But just three weeks into the tour, he was almost fatally wounded whilst out on patrol.

In a video announcing his climb, Eddy said: “I passed out in December 2008 out of ITC Catterick to join the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

“Fast forward a few years to 2010, I was out on a patrol in Afghanistan and unfortunately I got shot in the head whilst out with Afghan Special Forces.

“I have suffered from life-changing injuries but around this time last year we attempted to climb Mount Snowdon.

“But due to me being hungover, because we didn’t really plan it, I piled in at the summit and took about three hours to get back down.”

Gazette:

  • Eddy poses for a photo whilst climbing Snowdon

A spokesman for the Parachute Regiment said on Facebook: “He suffered life-changing injuries after an enemy round struck him in the head.

“Every aspect of his life has been affected.

“He was quickly med-evaced to a UK hospital on a C-17 aircraft as it was feared he would die of his wounds.”

Eddie remained in a coma for two months and was wheelchair-bound for many years before learning to walk again.

His left arm and hand have been left totally paralysed and he has minimal use of his left leg.

But the determined hero would not be beaten by the mountain and he completed the Llanberis route up Snowdon on Saturday, cheered on by his soldier friends and wellwishers.

Kind-hearted supporters have donated £3,631 to Eddy’s appeal online.

Another £366 was donated in cash on the mountain, with all the money going straight to Support Our Paras.

You can watch a video of Eddy’s climb at facebook.com/PARA.

Donate at bit.ly/32ExZV7.