A paralysed woman from Dumbarton has faced charging elephants and hippos in an exotic challenge.

Michelle Moffatt, and two other wheelchair adventurers, have become the first paraplegics to canoe nearly 300km down the Zambezi River.

The journey, which took seven days, started at Chirundu in Zambia and ended at the Mozambique border.

The trio spent up to seven hours a day in canoes in 40C heat, facing dangers including hippos, crocodiles, and punctured boats.

The challenge began in Chirundu and ended at the Mozambique border (Image: Michelle Moffatt)They carried wheelchairs, equipment, tents, and medical supplies in their canoes, camping by the river each night with the support crew.

Michelle, a former critical care nurse, said: "It was such an incredible experience which I will never forget.

"A couple of years ago I was thinking about ending my own life.

"So to be able to do this, to help others, and to give something back is just mind-blowing."

Michelle was on the trip alongside Shaun Gash and Liam Morris (Image: Michelle Moffatt) Michelle's life changed in 2019 when she bent down to pick up a pen on a night shift at Clydebank's Golden Jubilee Hospital in 2019

A prolapsed disc went into her spinal cord, leaving her paralysed from the waist down after surgery complications.

She was joined on the expedition by fellow paraplegics Shaun Gash from Lancashire and Liam Morris from Cumbria.

The trio, who have applied for a Guinness World Record, are raising money for the charities Spinal Research and Whizz Kidz.

They also donated equipment to a local orphanage school and mission hospital in Zambia.

Michelle added: "There were some incredible and really scary moments.

"Liam’s canoe capsized on the first day in a stretch of the river where there were hippos and crocodiles which was terrifying.

"An elephant also charged when he was catheterising which had us all moving away very quick."

The group aimed to raise money for the charities Spinal Research and Whizz Kidz (Image: Michelle Moffatt)Louisa McGinn, chief executive of Spinal Research, said: "We are just blown away by what Michelle, Shaun, and Liam have achieved.

"It is truly inspirational and we hope that people will support their remarkable efforts by donating."

A spokesperson for WhizzKidz said: "Shaun, Michelle, Liam and their team’s incredible journey down the Zambezi is a true testament to the power of determination."

To support Michelle, visit the Zambezi Canoe Challenge GoFundMe page HERE.