The second of five dramatic journeys in people's lives with Desmond Wilcox

Don Clark, a probation officer, might be dead and should be crippled. His life was saved by micro-surgery. The operation, to remove a spinal tumour, left him with a weakened leg - and a determination to do something for the hospital that had saved his life. He started running marathons for charity and raised £10,000 on his first attempt. Then he took on the biggest challenge of his life - the World Championship Triathlon. To finish, Don - who smokes 30 cigarettes a day and likes to drink beer with his friends - had to swim 2 miles in the sea, cycle 75 miles through mountains and run 20 miles - all non-stop in the fierce Mediterranean heat.
Even professional athletes are daunted by the Triathlon, some have been killed by it. It looked as if it might kill Don Clark - but he was determined to finish and survive.

BBC Scotland
(Ceefax subtitles)