A man who suffered serious brain injuries in an horrific car crash wants to prove he's back on his feet - by taking part in Ninja Warrior UK
This year viewers will see a competitor reach Mount Mirdoriyama as they attempt to be crowned the UK’s first Ninja Warrior.
Hosted by Ben Shephard, Rochelle Humes and Chris Kamara, contestants will be tested on their strength, speed and courage as another group of Ninja Heroes attempt to complete TV’s toughest obstacle course.
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Dave Bowes, from Wallasey , is one of the contestants taking on the show which pushes competitors to their limits.
And whilst the obstacle course is difficult for most, for Dave it is that extra bit harder.
In 2007, Dave was involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered a brain injury leaving him with no sense of balance.
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As a form of recovery Dave took up climbing, he said: "In the last two years, with an addition of quite an extreme diet change and as my brain injury symptoms started to alleviate.
"I just started working harder because I was able to physically. It turned out the harder I pushed myself physically, the better my brain reacts.
"It’s just a form of system training I guess."
Since then, Dave has reached new heights as a sportsman – with medals in the Para-Climbing World Cup and European Championships.
He now takes on his biggest challenge yet - Ninja Warriors UK.
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Asked how he found the course, he said: "I found it brilliant. It was really enjoyable but challenging.
"With my brain injury there were certain obstacles I was very worried about, but my progression and recovery over the last two years actually put me in better stead than I realised."
And whilst he was physically in a better position, it wasn't easy for Dave as there was one obstacle in particular that was causing him anxiety.
He said: "I was worried about coming face to face with the rolling bars that you have to run across.
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"Essentially, anything that was balance orientated, I’ve never really done well at those."
Swinging on the bars was also a nerve-wracking experience, Dave added: "I’ve not really been in the air. I’ve got no sense of balance and in the air is where I'm least at home.
"I create my own sense of balance by working out my surroundings. In the air, you've just got to go with the flow and as soon as I was in the air it was kind of confusing trying to work out how my body is balancing and feeling."
Asked what it would mean to complete the course and take on Mount Mirdoriyama, a 22-metre rope climb, Dave said: "Absolutely everything. It was driven really on the extent of my recovery over the past ten years."
Ninja Warrior UK starts Saturday at 6.30pm on ITV.
