A secondary school teacher who survived a cliff edge fall as a child, will take on his first London Marathon next year, in aid of the service that saved his life.
Nicholas Salter from Cardiff, has secured a Wales Air Ambulance Charity spot at the iconic event which will take place on Sunday 26, April 2026,
He signed up just days after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon where he featured as one of the Super Fives’ runners.
The 31-year-old said: “The atmosphere at Cardiff was electric! It’s the first big running event I’ve ever done, and I was quite nervous in the build-up.
“I don’t think I did as much training as I really should have, as a teacher there is never enough time in the day.
“I was hoping to complete it in two hours, and I was just slightly over that.”
Nicholas needed the service as a child, after sustaining serious facial injuries during a camping trip with his scout group in the Forest of Dean.
He was cycling down the side of a mountain when his brake cable snapped, near a cliff edge. He attempted to throw himself to safety but was knocked unconscious and sustained a serious head injury.
The science teacher says he was ‘fortunate to get an air ambulance’ and believes that without it he ‘might not have survived’ the trauma.
Since his accident in July 2007, he has helped raise over £20,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.
The lifesaving service is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Nicholas is committed to supporting Wales Air Ambulance. He said: “I will keep fundraising for the Charity until my last breath.
“Thanks to the service I’ve been given a second chance as life, and I want the same for others who have suffered life or limb threatening injuries.”
He admits his challenges ‘are getting tougher’ and added: “I started off with a bike ride from Brecon to Cardiff straight after my accident.
“Then upped it to a bike ride from Cardiff to London. I’ve done bog snorkelling, skydiving, but I’d never done a running event.
“So now that I know I can do a half marathon, I will train hard to ensure I am London Marathon ready.”
Nicholas attends the gym four times a week to work on his cardio. He also does a park run each weekend.
He said: “I hope my story inspires others to challenge themselves. I often talk to the young people I teach about what I am up to, and they are incredibly supportive.
“It was wonderful to see a group of them on the Cardiff Half course with signboards saying, ‘Go Mr Salter!’ That meant a lot.”
As a former patient, he also wants to do all he can to raise awareness of the level of care provided by the service. As a Super Fives spokesperson during the Cardiff Half Marathon, he was interviewed about his fundraising and the work of the Charity.
He said: “Whenever I have an opportunity to talk about the Wales Air Ambulance I say yes! I did a live interview on ITV Wales with Jonathan Hill, which was a fantastic experience.
“I also got to speak with lots of journalists at Cardiff Half and featured on BBC Wales, Global and Radio Cymru. This is something I hope to do more of in the future.”
Amanda Rosenberg, Regional Fundraising Manager for South East Wales said: “It’s always wonderful to get to connect with our past patients and find out how they are doing.
“Nicholas is an extraordinary person! Just months after his accident he was fundraising for us and has been fundraising for Wales Air Ambulance for 18 years.
“To date he has raised around £20,000 and is vowing to keep challenging himself for many decades to come.
“He is a fantastic role model for the young people he teaches and it’s wonderful to hear how they support him when he does his events.
“Every pound raised makes a huge difference and helps save lives each day across Wales.”
