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| Family says 'bionic woman' Claire Lomas was bright to the end | Family says 'bionic woman' Claire Lomas was bright to the end |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Claire Lomas's friend Stuart Hall said she could "achieve anything" | Claire Lomas's friend Stuart Hall said she could "achieve anything" |
| The family of a woman who raised nearly £1m for charity have recalled how she was "still bright and sticking her thumbs up" in hospital before she died following a microlight crash. | The family of a woman who raised nearly £1m for charity have recalled how she was "still bright and sticking her thumbs up" in hospital before she died following a microlight crash. |
| Claire Lomas, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, began fundraising after a 2007 horse accident left her paralysed, with her efforts including completing the 2012 London marathon in a robotic suit. | Claire Lomas, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, began fundraising after a 2007 horse accident left her paralysed, with her efforts including completing the 2012 London marathon in a robotic suit. |
| She died five weeks after the air accident in Jordan in 2024. | She died five weeks after the air accident in Jordan in 2024. |
| Now, for the first time since her death, her family have spoken to the BBC about continuing Ms Lomas's legacy. | Now, for the first time since her death, her family have spoken to the BBC about continuing Ms Lomas's legacy. |
| Her husband, Dan Spincer, said his wife had been invited to the Middle East by a company to make a documentary, which she was "really excited" about. | Her husband, Dan Spincer, said his wife had been invited to the Middle East by a company to make a documentary, which she was "really excited" about. |
| "We went out there, and it just went wrong," he said. | "We went out there, and it just went wrong," he said. |
| A pre-inquest hearing was told Ms Lomas was flying an adapted microlight in Jordan on 15 July 2024 when it veered off a road after landing and crashed into a rock. She died in hospital five weeks later. | A pre-inquest hearing was told Ms Lomas was flying an adapted microlight in Jordan on 15 July 2024 when it veered off a road after landing and crashed into a rock. She died in hospital five weeks later. |
| Her father Martin Lomas said: "Even in hospital, in Jordan, she was still bright when we went in to see her. | Her father Martin Lomas said: "Even in hospital, in Jordan, she was still bright when we went in to see her. |
| "She couldn't speak because she was all tubed up, but she was still bright and sticking her thumbs up." | "She couldn't speak because she was all tubed up, but she was still bright and sticking her thumbs up." |
| Stuart Hall, a close friend of Claire, added: "My last conversation with Claire was in the hospital. I must have spent an hour just holding Claire's hand and talking. That's my last memory of Claire." | Stuart Hall, a close friend of Claire, added: "My last conversation with Claire was in the hospital. I must have spent an hour just holding Claire's hand and talking. That's my last memory of Claire." |
| Martin Lomas, Claire's father, said in hospital Claire was "bright" | Martin Lomas, Claire's father, said in hospital Claire was "bright" |
| Mr Hall and Mr Spincer are now preparing to take on the Great South Run on 17 October - the last of three challenges the pair are doing in wheelchairs to take Ms Lomas's fundraising efforts past the £1m mark. | Mr Hall and Mr Spincer are now preparing to take on the Great South Run on 17 October - the last of three challenges the pair are doing in wheelchairs to take Ms Lomas's fundraising efforts past the £1m mark. |
| The pair have already taken part in the Great North Run and the Great Manchester Run to raise money for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, a charity which hopes one day to help find a way to reverse spinal injuries. | |
| Mr Hall, known as Pid, said Ms Lomas "could achieve anything". | Mr Hall, known as Pid, said Ms Lomas "could achieve anything". |
| "Her big mantra was lamp-post to lamp-post," he said. "You might not see 26 miles ahead, but you'll see the next lamp-post, and if you get there, you go to the next lamp-post." | "Her big mantra was lamp-post to lamp-post," he said. "You might not see 26 miles ahead, but you'll see the next lamp-post, and if you get there, you go to the next lamp-post." |
| Stuart Hall and Dan Spincer were taking part in the Great South Run to raise funds for charity | Stuart Hall and Dan Spincer were taking part in the Great South Run to raise funds for charity |
| Ms Lomas was told she would never walk again after she was thrown from her horse at the Osberton Horse Trials in 2007 but a suit with mechanical legs, called ReWalk, helped her to take her first steps again at a rehabilitation centre in East Yorkshire five years later. | Ms Lomas was told she would never walk again after she was thrown from her horse at the Osberton Horse Trials in 2007 but a suit with mechanical legs, called ReWalk, helped her to take her first steps again at a rehabilitation centre in East Yorkshire five years later. |
| The suit used braces to support the legs, motors to help rotate joints, weight and motion sensors and a battery pack. | The suit used braces to support the legs, motors to help rotate joints, weight and motion sensors and a battery pack. |
| Feet sensors detect when weight is lifted, motion sensors detect hip movement and upper-body sensors allow users to control movement. | Feet sensors detect when weight is lifted, motion sensors detect hip movement and upper-body sensors allow users to control movement. |
| Ms Lomas was the first person in the UK to use the ReWalk suit and wore it to complete the 2012 London Marathon in 17 days. | Ms Lomas was the first person in the UK to use the ReWalk suit and wore it to complete the 2012 London Marathon in 17 days. |
| She used it again to complete the Great North Run in 2016, earning the nickname "bionic woman" for her achievements. | She used it again to complete the Great North Run in 2016, earning the nickname "bionic woman" for her achievements. |
| Ms Lomas was also selected to light the Paralympic flame in 2012 and was appointed MBE in 2017 for her fundraising efforts. | Ms Lomas was also selected to light the Paralympic flame in 2012 and was appointed MBE in 2017 for her fundraising efforts. |
| Her father said: "She decided she was going to get up, do other things and have a good life - and that's what she did." | Her father said: "She decided she was going to get up, do other things and have a good life - and that's what she did." |
| Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |