A DOUGHTY dad from Yate, determined to say a huge thank you to the people who helped save his baby son's life, is preparing to risk life and limb in a daunting stunt.

Ian Hinder, of Bredon, is preparing to launch himself off the Avon Gorge - Bristol's dangerous and rocky summit atop the River Avon.

The dad-of-one wants to show his appreciation for staff at Southmead Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit who cared for baby Ciaran when he was born three months prematurely in January.

Ciaran weighed just 1lb 13oz when mum Juliet gave birth and had to remain in hospital under the watchful eye of expert staff.

Ian told the Gazette: "It was a worrying time but Ciaran is doing fine now and is a healthy, bouncing seven month-year-old.

"The nurses at Southmead were brilliant and do a fantastic job. Now I want to try and raise funds to help them work the miracles they do everyday."

Scout leader Ian, who works part-time at Ace Cameras in Yate, is supporting the Tiny Lives Campaign which aims to raise £1.5million to completely refurbish the unit.

The NICU provides top quality care for more than 500 sick and premature babies every year but it is now said to be cramped and outdated. The campaign has raised £800,000 so far.

On Sunday, Ciaran was christened in Westerleigh and his parents, steadfast in their determination to help the hospital unit, asked friends and relatives to donate money to the campaign instead of buying presents.

Ian will abseil down the gorge dressed as a Scout - a promise he made to his fellow Scout leaders at the 1st Yate group in order to secure their sponsorship. "I have never abseiled before," he said. "It is something I have wanted to do for years but other things have always come up. This is certainly not going to be an easy one to start out with."

There are a handful of places left for Sunday's abseil and another event is being organised for October. Anyone interested, or to sponsor Ian, should call the Tiny Lives Campaign on 0117 975 3753.