East End hospice users scuba dive in first opportunity of its kind

A group of wheelchair bound young people from a children’s hospice made a splash when they saw their lifelong dream to scuba dive become reality.

Special tuition from Docklands London Diving School was offered to four members of Richard House – and the trip is thought to be the first of its kind in the country for hospice users.

Harry Singh, 24, Ravi Methas, 22, Madeer Suleman, 18 and Ronak Patel, 14 were invited down to St George’s Pool in Shadwell after placing the sport on their wish-list of activities.

Harry Singh said: “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

The idea for the trip came from a scheme in Australia which allowed disabled youngsters to swim alongside sharks and stingrays.

Neil Williamson, in charge of the young adults group, said: “It was an amazing opportunity for them and such a sense of achievement as well.”