Paraplegic athlete climbs cliff in wheelchair

Pic shows: Lai Chia-wai climbing Lion Rock; A promising athlete who became a paraplegic after a serious car crash has scaled a famous mountain in his wheelchair. Lai Chi-wai, 33, lost the use of his lower body following the accident in 2011, but before that he was the four-time winner of the Asian Rock Climbing Championships. Despite having his athletic career cut short, Lai, a native of Hong Kong, never gave up and continued to keep fit in his wheelchair, taking up boxing and other forms of physical training. In 2014 he vowed to climb the city’s most famous peak - Lion Rock - once more - but this time in his wheelchair. And he finally achieved the feat precisely five years after his tragic accident. It was no fluke that Lai chose this day in December to tackle the cliff, as the date is now significant and symbolises him overcoming the toughest challenge in his life. Incredible pictures from Lai’s attempt shows him using ropes to haul himself up the vertical cliff face, where his climbing friends were waiting for his arrival. The impressive achievement has seen Lai dubbed Hong Kong’s "Lion Rock King", and his native city could not be prouder. Lai joked on social media afterwards: "Breaking News: Wheelchair discovered on Lion Rock." He added in his post: "I’ve reached my goal. I said I would climb Lion Rock and now I’ve done it. "In the middle of the night on 9th December, 2011, I had to undergo emergency surgery after a traffic accident. Five years later, I reached the top of Lion Rock. Once more I sit on the mountaintop. "Many good people helped me on my way. There were of course difficulties, but the Lion Rock Spirit means that these obstacles can be overcome." Lai refers to the Lion Rock Spirit that has been a core value in Hong Kong societies for generations, allowing them to transform their small city into what is today a major global economic entity. (Asia Wire / Lai Chia-wai)

Pic shows: Lai Chia-wai climbing Lion Rock; A promising athlete who became a paraplegic after a serious car crash has scaled a famous mountain in his wheelchair. Lai Chi-wai, 33, lost the use of his lower body following the accident in 2011, but before that he was the four-time winner of the Asian Rock Climbing Championships. Despite having his athletic career cut short, Lai, a native of Hong Kong, never gave up and continued to keep fit in his wheelchair, taking up boxing and other forms of physical training. In 2014 he vowed to climb the city’s most famous peak - Lion Rock - once more - but this time in his wheelchair. And he finally achieved the feat precisely five years after his tragic accident. It was no fluke that Lai chose this day in December to tackle the cliff, as the date is now significant and symbolises him overcoming the toughest challenge in his life. Incredible pictures from Lai’s attempt shows him using ropes to haul himself up the vertical cliff face, where his climbing friends were waiting for his arrival. The impressive achievement has seen Lai dubbed Hong Kong’s "Lion Rock King", and his native city could not be prouder. Lai joked on social media afterwards: "Breaking News: Wheelchair discovered on Lion Rock." He added in his post: "I’ve reached my goal. I said I would climb Lion Rock and now I’ve done it. "In the middle of the night on 9th December, 2011, I had to undergo emergency surgery after a traffic accident. Five years later, I reached the top of Lion Rock. Once more I sit on the mountaintop. "Many good people helped me on my way. There were of course difficulties, but the Lion Rock Spirit means that these obstacles can be overcome." Lai refers to the Lion Rock Spirit that has been a core value in Hong Kong societies for generations, allowing them to transform their small city into what is today a major global economic entity. (Asia Wire / Lai Chia-wai)