Man on a Mission: Nicholas Salter

Nicholas Salter was involved in a serious cycling accident when he was 12 years old. Since then, he’s been on a mission to help those who saved him. Emma Kaler finds out what keeps him pushing to do more

It looked like it was going to be an ordinary day for 12-year-old Nicholas Salter when he jumped on his bike. The Whitchurch High School student was away from home, taking part in the annual scout camp in the Forest of Dean.

What Nick didn’t know was that it was going to be a day that would change his life.

On rough terrain, Nick came flying off his bike. He lay sprawled on the ground, motionless, and with blood pouring from a head wound. No one knows exactly how it happened but what soon became apparent was that Nick was in serious trouble. He was in a critical condition and the only way to save him was to airlift him to hospital.

“I must have been knocked unconscious because the only thing I remember is waking up in a Hereford hospital and being told how lucky I was. If it wasn’t for the Wales Air Ambulance, I wouldn’t be here today. They picked me up from the mountain where I fell and flew me to the hospital. Sadly, I don’t remember anything about the flight.”

Nick sustained serious head and facial injuries, as well as a broken arm. The accident occurred at the start of the summer holidays, giving him a chance to heal and recover a little before he went back to school.

“Lying in that hospital bed and many times since, I’ve been able to reflect on what an amazing job the Wales Air Ambulance did that day. I went on to make a full recovery but if it hadn’t been for the air ambulance, it could have been a different story altogether.”

In the years following the accident, Nick made it his mission to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance. Since the age of 13, there have been tens of fundraising events, including musical nights and most impressively, extreme challenges.

“With the backing of my friends, family, teachers, and anyone else daft enough to get involved in my extreme sports, I undertook a number of daring feats, raising thousands of pounds for the WAA. I arranged a number of sponsored bike rides including one of 55 miles over the Brecon Beacons, riding over similar terrain as that of my accident. On top of this, I also organised bungee jumps, parachute jumps, and bog snorkelling events, to name but a few!” he says.

In 2013, Nick was recognised for his fundraising endeavours on ITV’s ‘Surprise, Surprise’ which he described as lovely but a huge shock.

“I was so embarrassed. I was sat in the audience with my mum, minding my own business when the spotlight picked me out. Then Holly Willoughby went on to tell my story and I won a trip to Slovenia for a week of extreme sports, mountain biking, and stuff like that. I was completely surprised but I had the best time in Slovenia.”

After leaving school, Nick went on to study International Wildlife Biology at University. Now in his twenties, he now works as a secondary school Science teacher in Cardiff. Despite his busy schedule, WAA is still a huge part of his life. His fundraising efforts have provided the WAA with over £15,000 over the years, money that has allowed the Air Ambulance service to continue helping those in need.

“This figure is continuing to rise with the half-marathon fundraiser now being spread across my social media,” he laughs.

Despite the nature and trauma of Nick’s accident, he has continued to challenge himself with risky endeavours, something that perhaps the average person would shy away from.

“They’re like family to me. I keep raising money for them whenever I can, organising events, challenging myself through extreme sports to push boundaries, and turning it into something positive by giving back.

“I love pushing the boundaries of adventure and that has amazingly never faded. I love the thrill and the freedoms that extreme sports offer. It’s a pure adrenaline rush. It’s also a test of your mental and physical limits; there’s something about pushing yourself to the edge and knowing you survived it. It’s empowering. I’m still very much into them!”

His most memorable recent adventure was a parachute jump he did last year.

“It was just pure exhilaration! It gave me a surreal view of the world that puts things in perspective.”

Looking back over his achievements so far, Nick is content with what he has done.

“If I had to ask my younger self what he thought of what I’ve done, I think he’d be proud – proud of turning such a traumatic experience into something positive. He’d probably think I was a bit crazy for choosing to keep doing extreme sports after that accident, but also impressed that I’ve stuck with what I love and used it for something good.

“Looking back, that accident absolutely changed my perspective on life. It taught me not to take a single moment for granted and to live life fully. It’s why I have such a hunger for adventure and experiences. I also have a deeper appreciation for kindness, bravery, and the importance of helping others – because someone was there to help me when I needed it most.”

Nicholas is currently training for the Cardiff Half Marathon, taking place this October, with all proceeds going to the Wales Air Ambulance.

“I appreciate what they did for me every day so it’s only fair that I repay them for what they did that day,” he says.

If you’d like to help Nick, find him here at justgiving.com