A MALMESBURY resident is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a charity that saved her father’s life.

Becca Hing flew out to Africa with 17 other fundraisers yesterday to take part in the gruelling trek in aid of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).

Having had a year of intense training, the team will now be fighting their way up the 19,710 foot high mountain.

Becca decided to take part in the climb after the GWAAC saved her father’s life.

Two years ago Trevor Hing collapsed in the street, having suffered a cardiac arrest.

In total his heart stopped three times, and it was touch and go whether he would survive.

Fortunately, a woman who had just been on a first aid course was passing by and saw Trevor collapse.

She performed CPR on him, while another passerby fetched two doctors who lived close.

By this time Trevor’s condition was deteriorating, but the air ambulance were called and arrived in 12 minutes with a critical care paramedic and doctor onboard.

They managed to stabilise him enough to be loaded into the GWAAC helicopter and transported to hospital.

Speaking about the incident, Becca said: “Without the GWAAC treating him and getting him to hospital so quickly he wouldn’t be here with us today.

“This is my small way of giving something back.”

GWAAC chief executive John Christensen described the Kilimanjaro walk as “a huge undertaking”.

“I know that a lot of training and preparation has gone into it,” he said.

“I couldn’t do it, and I really admire them for taking this challenge on.

“They will come back with memories to last a lifetime, and a huge sense of accomplishment, safe in the knowledge that the money they have raised will help our crew continue to save lives.”

So far the team have raised more than £70,000, but there is still time to donate.

To support Becca and the team, visit everydayhero.co.uk/event/Kilimanjaro2017/top_ten