Jack Morgan and his supporters make the ascent of Pen-y-ghent last April. Photo: CRO

A paralysed man who made the ascent of one of Yorkshire’s Three Peaks to raise cash for a rescue team has died.

The Cave Rescue Organisation said Jack Morgan suffered a period of illness after his fundraiser in April last year.

The 36-year-old lecturer ascended Pen-y-ghent on his mountain trike, accompanied by team members, bringing in £2,500 for the Clapham-based team’s coffers.

A CRO spokesperson said: “He was in the process of planning to do the same on Whernside this year when he became ill.

“Jack was a keen outdoor enthusiast who suffered head and back injuries when he fell from cliffs near Lochinver in Sutherland six years ago. When Jack undertook his climb of Pen-y-ghent, we were all deeply impressed by his determination, strength and character in completing a tough route on far-from-ideal tracks for his mode of transport.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Laura and young daughter Eve.”

Mr Morgan, a former rugby player, accomplished the 11km (7-mile) trip from Horton in Ribblesdale to the summit of the 694m (2,277ft) fell. He was paralysed from the waist down after his Scottish accident.

The Cave Rescue Organisation had its busiest ever year in 2016, with most of the people helped on the fells of the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas. It is one of three in the Dales which respond to incidents both above and below the ground.

It attended 99 incidents last year, helping 134 people. The team’s search dog handlers also attended four rescues outside the CRO’s area.

A team spokesperson said: “CRO members went out to walkers 69 times, to climbers five times, to fellrunners twice, to one mountain biker and four sheep or lambs on rock ledges.

“Despite the team’s name, members were called to assist cavers underground on only six occasions and sheep or lambs underground on four occasions.”