AN ARMY paramedic from Caerleon completed an abseil down the deepest cave in the Middle East as part of a trio of challenges for charity.

Father-of-three Dean Crighton, 41, has been all over the world as a military paramedic with the Royal Army Medical Corps, including to Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Norway and Kenya.

Now the former Caerleon Comprehensive pupil, who is currently on a two year secondment to the Omani Army, abseiled down the 178-metre deep Majlis al Jinn cave in Oman in a massive fundraising feat on August 29.

Mr Crighton had to cross 1,300 metres of rugged mountain terrain just to reach the enormous cave in the Salma Plateau, the second biggest cavern in the world and is dated around 50 million years old.

The paramedic, who trained for the abseil by hill walking and rock climbing, said: “There were no problems and it was an awesome day. I wasn’t scared, I was just very respectful of the descent.”

The cave descent is just the first of three Oman-based adventure challenges for Mr Crighton, who is raising money for a local orphanage and the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.

Mr Crighton, who joined the army at 28, will also be undertaking a mountain climb and a marathon walk, as part of the High, Low and Slow trio challenge which has already raised more than £600 for charity.

The father to Ellie, Daniel and Alisha is currently based in Muscat, Oman, teaching combat medical skills to Omani medics, and has given himself until the end of October to complete the three feats.

It is not the first time Mr Crighton has pushed himself to his limits, after raising £2,500 for the Autistic Society with a wheelbarrow push full of cement to the top of Mount Snowdon.

Friend Craig Summerhill, who climbed Mount Snowdon with Mr Crighton, said: “Dean is always the character and looking to create a wind-up. He turned an ordinary charity walk up to the summit of Mount Snowdon into a charity wheel barrow push without anyone knowing. It was such a surprise.”

Mr Summerhill, who was best man at Mr Crighton’s wedding, said: “Dean is such a great person always willing to go the extra mile to help others.”

Last year Mr Crighton married his fiancé Samantha, flying back from his placement in America for just three days.

To donate to the fundraising campaign justgiving.com/Deano-Rattler