Paralympian Suzanna Hext’s joy at making it down the aisle

A paralympian has revealed how she surprised the congregation at her wedding after secretly training to make it down the aisle using crutches.

Suzanna Hext, 37, from Cornwall, who has been in a wheelchair since a horse-riding accident in 2012 left her paralysed, tied the knot with partner Gareth in the village of St Just-in-Roseland, in July.

The world-champion swimmer said even her own mother did not know she was planning to be “upright” getting to the altar, and “almost passed out” at the sight.

Hext, who recently uploaded a video of the big day to social media, described it as “the most perfect day – I didn’t want it to end”.

“As soon as we got engaged I told Gareth I really wanted to be upright in some way whilst going down the aisle with my dad,” said the gold-medallist, who was also six months pregnant at the time.

“Having no feeling or functional movement from the waist down, I had to practise and practise, and I had quite a lot of help from the team at the hospital I attend.”

She used a combination of crutches, fixed-leg splints and upper body strength.

“Everyone cheered when I reached the end, their reaction was incredible,” Hext added.

“It was a moment that I will treasure forever.”

Born and raised in Cornwall, her life changed forever when a horse she was breaking in reared up and landed on top of her.

The incident left her with life-changing injuries to her spine, head, pelvis and shoulder.

Years of hospital treatment followed but watching the Paralympics in 2012 encouraged her to stick with sport.

She won various medals as a para equestrian but took up swimming to great success in 2017.

Now living in Calne in Wiltshire, she is also deaf and wears cochlear implants.

Her hearing dog Kimmy, who she has credited with “transforming” her life, had pride of place at her wedding.