Wheelchair user takes on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) ‘unaided’ thanks to engineering team’s first-of-its-kind power mobility chair
Mental health campaigner and disabled adventurer Nick Wilson has completed a solo attempt of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) ‘unaided’ using first-of-its-kind engineered mobility chair, RockClimber™. Following the Llanberis route and reaching the Clogwyn pass without any assistance, Nick successfully overcame the most challenging of obstacles to reach the highest point of Snowdon ever gained by a wheelchair user without physical support.
His climb aims to raise greater awareness and action towards current accessibility and independence challenges faced by wheelchair users every day, importantly showing how inclusive design and engineering can help to make the world more accessible for everyone, everywhere and positively impact lives.
During the final ascent, he encountered problems with the steering and increasing chronic pain, so for safety reasons, made the decision not to push on to the summit, on this attempt.
Nick left the Army after 14 years of service, with a spinal injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following multiple deployments across the world which left him reliant on using a powerchair. After documenting his accessibility challenges and his passion for outdoor adventure, Nick was approached by engineering company Rock Engineering Ltd and lead engineers Elliot Dason-Barber and Andrew Miller, who offered to build him a first-of-its-kind power chair to help give him back his freedom – and allow him to achieve his goal, to summit Yr Wyddfa unassisted.
RockClimber™ is based off extensive motorsport design experience to create a new chair concept. It includes 4x electric motors enabling 15Hp of power; bonded aluminium construction for maximum strength and minimum weight (210kg); 4-wheel drive with variable wheelbase to help with climbing and a range of 100 miles on flat terrain.
The project, championed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), demonstrates how inclusive design and engineering can be used to improve accessibility in urban and rural environments, enabling people reliant on wheelchairs to have greater independence and freedom without the risk of falling or getting stuck. With more than 650,000 registered wheelchair users in the UK (NHS National Wheelchair Data Collection), there are still barriers in everyday life where wheelchairs are not equipped to tackle different environments, even on the high street.
Nick said: “The last time I came up Yr Wyddfa I was still in the Army, the fittest I had ever been in my life and I wasn't in a chair. I have overcome so much, including learning to manage suicidal thoughts brought on by isolation and loneliness, adapting to becoming disabled and creating a new life focusing on what I’m passionate about – ensuring that everyone has the same access and freedom to explore our world.
“Being able to get as far as I did completely unaided is all thanks to the team at Rock Engineering producing an incredible, extreme power mobility chair. I’m determined to make it to the summit and with a fantastic engineering team around me developing the solutions, I’ll definitely get there.”
Rock Engineering Director and IET member, Elliot Dason-Barber, added: "Taking on Yr Wyddfa with Nick at the controls of RockClimber™, is a truly exceptional moment for me and the team. Nearly two years of hard work, by numerous people, has led to this and I would like to thank them all. Engineering is all about problem solving and we have the power to use what we have learnt and our journey with Nick to work with the wider industry and professional bodies like the IET to increase inclusive thinking and action. We still have a goal to make it to the summit and I’m determined to get Nick, and RockClimber™ there.”
The IET’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr Laura Norton, added: “We’d like to congratulate Nick and the Rock Engineering team on a fantastic achievement. It’s vital that accessibility is possible for everyone, everywhere – whether on the high street or at the top of a mountain – and engineering and technology can play a huge role in this.
“Inclusive design is really important and project RockClimber™ has shown just that. We hope this goes as far as to challenge current wheelchair regulations and manufacture so that in future there will be a single-chair solution that will make a fundamental impact to navigating a range of terrains and break down barriers for many more wheelchair users.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Rock Engineering
Rock Engineering Limited is an Advanced Engineering company specializing in the Mobility, Automotive and Motorsports sectors. Our highly experienced team can cover all elements of the Engineering life cycle including Concept Definition, Virtual Optimisation, Component Design, Component Manufacture, Vehicle build, and Vehicle Test. The team is based in its dedicated design and workshop facility in the heart of Motorsport Valley, just 4 miles from Silverstone.
For more information visit: Rock Engineering - Precision Engineering
About Nick
Nick Wilson is an Adventurer and Speaker, aka Disabled Adventurer, Ambassador for Purple Tuesday, and Disability Expo and advocates for survivors of suicide and disability. He openly, and very frankly, shares his lived experiences with mental illness, physical disability and surviving a suicide attempt to; inform society, encourage change and inspire and empower others, with authenticity and a message of hope.
He is also an Army Veteran with an impactful story to tell. After 14 years of service, Nick left the military, with a spinal injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD, as a result of multiple deployments across the globe such as, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Through his battle with both physical and mental disabilities, surviving attempted suicide and managing suicidal ideation, Nick continually demonstrates resilience and the ability to overcome adversity.
DA website - https://www.disabledadventurer.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/disabled.adventurer/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@disabled.adventurer
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Cd5eO8hEmRmszWGgBnWwg
About the IET
- We inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world.
- We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world. This breadth and depth means we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.
- We want to build the profile of engineering and technology to change outdated perceptions and tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
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- For more information, visit theiet.org
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Media enquiries to:
Rebecca Gillick
External Communications Manager
E: rgillick@theiet.org
Sophie Lockyer
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E: slockyer@theiet.org