One giant leap closer to space for Paralympian John McFall

Paralympian and NHS surgeon John McFall is one step closer to becoming becoming the first physically disabled astronaut to reach orbit.

McFall, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 19, was selected by the European Space Agency in 2022 for a study on physically disabled astronauts.

Now, a new agreement - between the UK government and US commercial space company Vast - means the UK Space Agency will be able to secure sponsorships to fund a spaceflight for him.

The father-of-three from Hampshire won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games after learning to run again while at Swansea University, and training with other Welsh Paralympic athletics.

But even after all that preparation and discipline, he said there was a "huge amount of training" required to get to space.

"Everything from wilderness survival training and sea survival to a lot of classroom-based stuff, physics, engineering, biology, human performance, and behaviour," he told BBC Breakfast.

And he's not the only one keen to get to orbit.

"My kids are only excited because, apparently, I promised if I go to space, they get a dog. I can't renege on it now," he said.

"It's a little bit difficult."