A MAGOR man who overcame life-threatening injuries after a road traffic accident has been handed a national award for coaching youngsters.

Dan Johnsey was awarded the Young Coach of the Year award at this year’s Sport Wales Awards, which took place at the Wales Millennium Centre on Monday.

The award recognises the outstanding contributions of a volunteer to encourage and support more people to start playing and succeed in a sport through high quality coaching.

Mr Johnsey, who came up against nominations from all over Wales, has rebuilt his life since his accident to become a swim and gym coach at Caldicot Leisure Centre.

One of his key achievements this year has been his work to lead on a transition project engaging young people from a small disability-specific gym class into the mainstream fitness suite at Caldicot.

Mr Johnsey has been supported by Mark Foster, the council’s Disability Sport Officer, who said: “Dan is an inspiration to us all. He has achieved so much and passes lots of enthusiasm and dedication to everyone he coaches."

Other successes in Monmouthshire included Paul Crapper, of Abergavenny, who was awarded the Community Coach of the Year award for his dedication and support to encourage and enable women of all ages to take up cycling.

Bob Greenland, cabinet member for innovation, enterprise and leisure said: “These are outstanding achievements for sport in Monmouthshire.

"Both Dan and Paul have accomplished so much for the communities they support. It is so good to see the Monmouthshire Leisure Team going from strength to strength to empower volunteers and enable them to reach their potential.”