A CUB Scout leader who was airlifted to hospital after falling from a Dartmoor tor will set off on a walking fundraiser for the air ambulance this weekend. 

Experienced hiker, Richard Newton, had the shock of a lifetime after falling from a tor and breaking his leg in two places in May. 

The keen walker was hiking with his family and training his daughter to navigate a remote part of North Dartmoor, improving her map-reading skills. 

Richard was hiking with his three children and wife when he stumbled off the rock, landing ‘right next to his daughter’ on the ground. 

‘She looked surprised to see me land next to her,’ said Richard.

Having no phone signal at the time, Richard was relieved when two fishermen from a nearby river valley rushed to his help. In a twist of luck, one of the fishermen was a recently qualified surgeon, who helped him with the pain in his leg. 

Richard said: ‘My foot got wedged as I stepped from one rock to the other, then gravity got in on the act and off I went.

‘I am so very grateful to the chaps who helped and want to thank them.’ 

Luckily, Richard’s wife was the only person with mobile signal in the group.

After calling 999 the air ambulance was despatched. 

After his 3.5 metre fall from Watern Tor, Richard’s quick-thinking daughter had to put her newly learnt map-reading skills into practice by getting the family safely back to the car which was parked miles away. Richard was airlifted to Derriford Hospital where he had leg surgery the very next day.

‘It was what they call a “tib and fib break”. I’ve now got a metal pole in my leg and I am so grateful. 

He added: ‘The aftercare from the Air Ambulance has been utterly superb. The doctor on board the chopper even called me more than a week later to see if there was anything else he could do to help.’

On Saturday Richard will be reunited with his beloved Dartmoor by going on a hike to raise money for the air ambulance with ten of his Fourth Teignmouth Cubs.

He will push the limits as to how far he can manage to hike while completing some badge requirements with his cubs after the accident. If you would like to donate to Richard’s Air Ambulance fundraiser, please visit justgiving.com and search for: ‘Richard Newton.’