Woman with spine injury 'buzzing' after triathlon

Trish Brookes took part in the Superhero Tri event dressed as Wonder Woman

A woman who suffered a spinal injury when she fell in the shower four years ago said she was "buzzing" after completing a triathlon dressed as Wonder Woman.

Trish Brookes, from Crewe, Cheshire, took on the Superhero Tri event in Windsor on Friday in the latest of a series of challenges in support of the Spinal Injuries Association.

Her previous challenges, all completed since suffering her injury in July 2021, have included abseiling down Anfield stadium in Liverpool and swimming with sharks.

Mrs Brookes, who needs crutches and sometimes a wheelchair to get about, told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm still buzzing but my body is definitely telling me I'm not. It was an absolutely fantastic day."

She said she found the challenge "very, very hard" but pushed herself because she knew she was raising money for a cause close to her heart.

The event involved a 150m (492 ft) swim in a lake, followed by a three-mile tandem bike ride, which Ms Brookes did with her husband, and ended with a "sprint" element, which she walked with the aid of her crutches.

"There was such a wonderful community of people that came together for this event," Mrs Brookes said. "Their energy gets you to where you need to be on the day."

She said crossing the finish line was an emotional moment, adding: "I'm not doing it to get cheers or recognition - I'm doing it to prove to myself that I can still enjoy life."

Mrs Brookes lost feeling from her waist down a few days after her fall and had an operation to stop her becoming paralysed.

She was told she could lose the ability to walk, but the mum-of-three said she had no plans to stop her fundraising activities and has raised thousands of pounds for the Spinal Injuries Association since she was hurt.

Her next challenge - a 90ft abseil from an old railway bridge followed by a mile-long canoe race - will take place in the Peak District in four weeks.