A MAN who was left paralysed after stepping on a sea urchin is to compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Callum Hall, originally from Yeadon, will take part alongside his wife and fellow wheelchair athlete Jade Jones. The couple, who now live in County Durham, are among 18 para athletes who will represent England in the games in Australia next April.

Callum, 25, will be competing for the first time at a major event. Jade, 21, won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Callum was a trainee PE teacher when he was left paralysed from the chest down after a freak accident on a Greek holiday in 2012. He developed a spinal abscess after stepping on a sea urchin and was told he was unlikely to walk again.

Writing on Twitter after the Team England announcement he said: "I’ve been selected to represent England at the @GC2018 Commonwealth Games in the marathon. ????????????My 1st time competing for my county at a major games and I get to compete along with my wife @JadeJones11. Very excited!"

Jade tweeted: "Commonwealth Games will always hold a special place in my heart as it’s where I won my first senior medal. I am especially excited to be selected for the commonwealth games in Australia in April for triathlon. It will be the first time Paratriathlon has been at the games!"

Team England will send around 600 athletes and staff to the event. The athletes will compete in 18 sports, including 38 para medal events.

Sarah Winckless, Chef de Mission for Commonwealth Games England, said: "This is the largest para programme that the Commonwealth Games has ever delivered, and I am very pleased to be welcoming these athletes as part Team England. They will join the 75 athletes who were announced earlier this year, and will be our largest group of athletes from one sport.

"This para group is multi-talented and very strong, and I would particularly like to point out Jade Jones who will both be competing on the track, and taking her turn at the triathlon venue, a first for Team England."

Martin Rush, England’s Athletics Team Leader, said: "We are delighted that these 18 athletes have accepted invitations to be part of the athletics team for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. What was already a strong team is now even stronger, with the addition of a number of Paralympic and World Para Athletics Championships medallists.

"The Games afford us a welcome opportunity to send a team that combines the talents of both para and non-disability athletes and we cannot wait to see them in action."