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TV show tells inspiring story of two disabled scuba divers on world record attempt

Shaun Gash during his diving training, Image from BBC North West Tonight

A TV show is telling the story of two inspiring men who have joined forces on a world record attempt for a disabled scuba diving duo.

Shaun Gash from Lancaster has teamed up with journalist Mohammed Salim Patel aiming to become the first paraplegic amputee and blind person to dive together.

Their story is being told with regular episodes on BBC North West Tonight, with the first one airing last night (March 25) on BBC1.

The two men are being trained for the dive by Mohammed Mokhtar Elazab, nicknamed 'Curly', from Morecambe Area Divers.

Their aim is to show that diving is for everybody and that under water, everyone is equal.

Shaun was paralysed from his chest down following a car accident when he was 20, and at the time was given two days to live.

Here is Shaun (right), pictured on a visit to the Beyond Radio studio with our presenter Luke Stutchbury.

Seven years ago, he also lost his leg while climbing Ben Nevis mountain in Scotland.

But Shaun has not allowed his disabilities to stop him from taking on the toughest challenges to raise money for charities.

These have included sky diving and scuba diving, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and travelling in his wheelchair from Land's End to John O'Groats.

He also aims to become the first paralysed amputee to canoe the Zambezi river in Africa in October.

Shaun will take on his 235km Zambezi challenge starting on October 23. The money raised will be split between the Whizz Kidz and Spinal Research charities. You can donate here.

Mohammed Salim Patel, a BBC journalist, has a degenerative eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa, and has been blind since childhood.

Curly is the chief instructor at Morecambe Area Divers, based on the White Lund estate.

Here is Curly pictured with Mohammed and Shaun during the BBC North West Tonight programme.

He began working in the diving industry in 2003 and has worked with some of the top dive centres at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

Recently Shaun and his family enjoyed a night out on hit TV show Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway as a reward for his years of fundraising and taking on the biggest challenges.

Read more: Lancaster fundraiser enjoys surprise night on TV show Saturday Night Takeaway - Beyond Radio

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