TWENTY six years ago, Gavin Massey was one of the servicemen who went to the South Atlantic in the Falklands Task Force.

But after a devastating motorbike crash in 2006, Mr Massey, 46, is paralysed along most of his left side, cannot walk and needs 24 hour care.

His young son, Josh, 12, spends a great deal of his time caring for his dad alongside mum Ruth, 37.

Mr Massey's family say they want to raise around £6,000 for a wet room to help him regain enough strength in his left leg to be able to walk again with crutches.

Mr Massey of Penallt near Monmouth was a junior technician in Three Squadron at RAF St Athan.

He was an engineer based on Ascension Island during the 1982 Falklands conflict - repairing aircraft from the front line.

But after his motorbike accident near the Toll House, Monmouth in November 2006, he has lost the use of his left arm, his left leg muscles have been left seriously weakened, and he is partially-sighted.

His wife Ruth was with him when the accident happened which has left him wheelchair-bound.

She said: "He also suffers mental deficits, like understanding where he's at. He still thinks he'll drive again.

"He also lacks motivation and just wants to sleep all the time, which is terrible for someone who used to be so active."

Before the accident, the family used to take all their holidays on motorbikes and had a sidecar for Josh.

They travelled around Eastern Europe and four months before the accident, Mr and Mrs Massey travelled 10,000 miles to Mongolia to raise funds for charity.

"Thank god we did that when we did and Gavin can remember the experience," said his wife.

After leaving the RAF in 1986, he worked as a water treatment engineer around Monmouthshire and took disabled children for day trips on his side car.

But after the accident, the family's lives changed forever.

Mr Massey spent three months in a coma before undergoing seven months of rehabilitation at Rookwood Hospital, Cardiff.

He returned home in August 2007, with his wife giving up her work as an accountant to look after him full-time.

Mrs Massey said: "A lot of things changed, like holidays would never be possible again. But Josh was not bitter. He is always motivating his dad to do paraplegic exercises, arguing back when Gavin gets difficult and he gives me so much emotional support."

Caring routine

Carers get Mr Massey up in the mornings, but his wife then helps him wash and do 40 minutes paraplegic exercise each day.

He does this on a special machine that stands him upright and helps circulation and strengthens leg muscles.

It cost £5,000 and was part-funded by the local British Legion.

Mrs Massey's parents live next door and they help out. Mr Massey also spends seven days at a brain injury rehabilitation unit in Birmingham every six weeks.

The family has been living off savings and a health policy that Mrs Massey believes will only last another seven months.

They want to install a £6,000 wet room and explore the possibility of hydrotherapy that could allow Mr Massey to one day walk with the aid of crutches.

Melin Homes have offered to help and the family are applying to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association for funding.

If you would like to help with fund-raising, call 01600 712892 or email masseypenguins@aol.com.

Loving son helps father

JOSH cuts his dad's food up, helps him move around and stimulates him by playing chess.

He also takes on duties like mowing the lawn and friends say he acts more like an 18-year-old than 12.

The Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil has recently taken up boxing. His mother said: "When he found out about his father, a nurse found him outside the hospital kicking a wall, so she put pillows on a bed and told him to hit them.

"He gets on with things, but probably bottles a lot of things up. It's good he's got an outlet."

Josh said: "I take my dad coffee and I enjoy seeing the new moves he comes up with when we play chess."