A MACHYNLLETH man whose life changed forever when a falling tree left him paralysed four years ago is set to embark on a new career on the small screen.
Rhys Lewis, 27, will be a new part of the presenting team of the long-running S4C show Cefn Gwlad when the new series kicks off on Tuesday, 27 February.
In 2014, Rhys, who enjoyed a stellar rugby career as a back-row forward for Machynlleth Rugby Club, was paralysed after a tree splintered, falling and pinning him to the ground at the family farm, Henllan, at Uwch y Garreg, Forge.
The agriculture graduate from Aberystwyth University had returned home to help his parents Gwyn and Eleri out during lambing season.
He was flown to North Staffordshire Hospital by air ambulance and spent nearly three months in hospital at both Staffordshire and Gobowen Hospital in Oswestry.
Although the incident affected his life on the farm, and life in general, he still works on the farm and is also part of the Welsh clay pigeon shooting team.
Rhys said it was “great” to become part of Cefn Gwlad, a programme which has been an integral part of S4C’s schedule and one of the channel’s most popular programmes.
Rhys will join popular farmer and broadcaster Dai Jones of Llanilar, Ceredigion, who will continue to be the backbone of the series.
“Cefn Gwlad is a programme that everyone sits down to watch, there have been so many characters on the programme, and it’s going to be great to be part of that tradition,” Rhys said.
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