Shaun Gash, a 55-year-old paraplegic adventurer from Lancaster, is undertaking his most demanding expedition yet: leading four other wheelchair users on a six-day kayak journey across Indonesia's remote Komodo National Park. The team will cover over 100 kilometres of open ocean, camping on uninhabited islands with armed park rangers for protection against komodo dragons.
Unprecedented Challenge for Wheelchair Users
Shaun admitted: “This is absolutely my most ambitious challenge to date – nothing’s ever come close to it in terms of difficulty… people still underestimate what wheelchair users can do. If this changes how even a few organisations or individuals think, it’s worth it.”
At age 20, Shaun became paralysed from the chest down after a car crash that broke his back, wrist and shoulder, punctured both lungs, and left doctors believing he had only days to live. Rather than scaling back his ambitions, he has pursued increasingly challenging expeditions to change perceptions. His adventures have raised thousands for charity and earned him an MBE.
Previous Setback and Amputation
In 2018, during a fundraising trek up Ben Nevis, Shaun's leg became trapped under his off-road wheelchair. Without feeling in the limb, he didn't notice the damage until his group stopped to shelter from a hailstorm. His lower right leg had to be amputated, but he vowed to continue his fundraising work.
The Komodo Challenge
The Komodo Challenge in September will see the group kayak over 100 kilometres during manta ray and turtle migration season, facing unpredictable weather and camping on uninhabited islands. The six-day expedition will raise money for Spinal Research, Spinal Injuries Scotland, Leukaemia Luke UK, and Chameleon Bodies.
Shaun said: “It’s been months in planning, and training is ongoing, but I couldn’t be more excited to get started. We’ve assembled the absolute dream team, and I know everyone has got what it takes to see this challenge through. I’m mostly looking forward to visiting Pink Beach. But more than that, it’s about proving these places don’t have to be off‑limits.”
Safety and Inclusion
The group previously conquered a 300km course on the Zambezi River in canoes. For the open ocean, tour operators adjusted safety protocols to accommodate wheelchair users—a learning curve for everyone. Despite growing interest in adaptive travel, wheelchair users are often turned away from adventure experiences due to liability concerns. Shaun hopes this challenge will inspire greater inclusion.
He said: “The operators are learning too – and that’s how lasting change happens. So often the answer is no before the question has really been explored. We want to show that with planning, support and the right mindset, accessibility in extreme environments is absolutely achievable. If this sparks support, challenges assumptions, or shifts perceptions about where wheelchair users belong, then it will have made a meaningful difference.”
Equipment and Support
Three team members will use RGK FX wheelchairs, and the expedition is supported by Sunrise Medical, parent group of RGK, which helped fund support boats and crew. Shaun, who works for RGK, added: “I wanted to use the same type of equipment people rely on day to day. It helps show that independence and adventure aren’t separate things – they’re connected.”
Donations can be made at https://givestar.io/gs/rolling-round-the-komodos.
