A WINCHESTER firefighter proved his fitness by taking part in a charity row.

Wearing full kit and breathing apparatus watch manager Sean Gray clocked up more than 26 miles on a rowing machine in Winchester High Street.

The dad-of-three from Chandler’s Ford said he wanted to give something back to the service after he was involved in a collision last year which left him with physical and psychological injuries.

The fatal crash in August involved troubled young father Darren Father purposely driving his car into a fire engine on the A337 in the New Forest.

The crash had a huge impact on Mr Gray but helping him through that tough time was The Fire Fighters Charity.

Mr Gray, 45, who has been with the service for 23 years, split his mammoth effort into morning and afternoon legs in kit weighing 35kg.

He hopes to raise at least £1,000.

Mr Gray said: “In all the years working for HFRS this was the first time I used The Fire Fighters Charity and I can honestly say it was instrumental in helping with my recovery. Through the help of the charity I was able to return to some form of normality.”

Mr Gray said: “It was a shock for me and it did stay with me, it is not something you are going to forget, it was quite a serious thing that happened for us, I do not recall anything like that happening in Hampshire before. With all the help and support I was given I would like to give something back.”

Donate Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sean-Gray7