A MAN who lives near Whitchurch has won a gold medal as part of the GB team at the World Games in the United States.

Dan Kellett, 30, who comes from Higher Wych, helped his wheelchair rugby team win gold medals in a defensive role and launching long balls which were converted into tries at the event which took place in Birmingham in Alabama.

Dan suffered a spinal injury in 2012 and his mother Diane said she was proud of her son's achievement.

She added: "I am a very very proud mother and his wife is very proud.

"He has achieved a lot in the last 10 years, we are all so proud of him.

"When he had his accident, we did not think he would be able to use his arm at all.

"But he worked, worked and worked at it.

"I am very, very proud.

"I could have cried when he sent me the picture."

Wheelchair rugby, or 'murder ball' as it was originally known, is a full contact disability sport which is played in a basketball court.

The ball is similar to that used in volleyball and a match consists of four eight-minute quarters with a squad of 12, but only four players from each team may be on the court at any time.