'I was left paralysed after a speed boat exploded in St Lucia - now I'm representing Britain at a major sports event in Germany'
A retired Staffordshire Police officer and para-carriage driving legend from Shropshire is appealing for help in making a last 'swan-song' appearance for the para-driving world championships.
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Deborah Daniel's life was drastically changed in 1997 when a speed boat she was on in St Lucia exploded, tragically killing four people, and leaving her paralysed.
Ms Daniel, from Whixhall, Shropshire, worked as a police sergeant in Staffordshire Police in Cannock at the time, even returning to work following the incident.
However, following her retirement from the force, she was introduced to carriage driving through the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), which provides horse-riding and carriage-driving lessons as a form of therapeutic rehabilitation.
The sport involves drivers sitting on a carriage pulled by a horse taking part in a range of events including dressage and negotiating obstacles.
Deborah excelled in the sport, wearing the Union Jack on her jacket at six world championships, and even being awarded the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Gold Badge of Honour for her amazing endeavours, being the only British para-carriage driver to be given the honour.
Now Deborah is to appear as part of the British Para Driving Squad 2025 at the upcoming 2025 Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Para Driving World Championships in Lahden, Germany. But it will be her last event as she has decided to retire from professional para-driving.
