A teenager from Wales is receiving hospital treatment in China after an accident during a remarkable cycling expedition. Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, sustained head, neck and leg injuries and is reported to be in a stable condition.
Charity ride for British Heart Foundation
Hughes is cycling with Louis Dennis, 19, and James Thomas, 19, also from Llangollen, on a 6,000-mile journey from Wrexham to Thailand. The trio set off a year ago and are currently travelling through China towards Chiang Mai in Thailand. The challenge supports the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison, who died after a heart attack in 2024.
Group's Facebook update
In a Facebook post, the group wrote: "We didn't expect to be making this post. Dyfan has been in an accident and we are currently in hospital. He has a head, neck and leg injury but he's stable and in one of the best places in the world for this kind of accident to get the best recovery out of him."
"We don't know what this means for the trip right now but one thing is for sure, we will stick together and when we arrive in Chang Mai, Thailand it will be the 3 of us no matter how long it takes. We will give more updates in the next few days."
Adventure of a lifetime
The friends quit their jobs – Dyfan left bar work, Louis his factory post and James his role at McDonald's – to take on the adventure. They typically spend six to eight hours a day on their bikes and camp or stay in budget accommodation, carrying only essentials like sleeping mats, sleeping bags, a tent, a stove, a first-aid kit, a couple of changes of clothes and tins of food.
