A 20-year-old woman from Salisbury had the shock of her life when she met BBC presenter Steve Brown and he presented her with an unexpected life-transforming prize.

Tia McConnell began to use a wheelchair in 2020 following a freak accident which led to a slipped disc and pain, weakness, and immobility and was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

After travelling to Middlesex with her mum Denise, brother Jude, and girlfriend Abby, on the pretext of meeting her mum's former work colleague, Tia found herself with BBC presenter Steve Brown and Adapt Ability’s Directors Christian Brownlee and Matt Walker at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.

Salisbury Journal: Tia McConnell and familyTia McConnell and family (Image: Adapt Ability)

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Tia was shocked to hear she had won an Omeo wheelchair which enables the user to travel over uneven terrain, to navigate inclines and bumps in the ground.

Tia said: “I can’t believe it – my whole life is going to change for the better. I’m in shock. I’ve never won anything before, let alone something like this. I feel like I’ve had all my life’s luck at this moment, and I honestly can’t believe it.

She added: “I can't believe the change having an Omeo is going to bring to my life and the doors that have just opened up for me. I can't wait to get out there and rediscover all the possibilities I've had to force myself to forget about. I’m beyond grateful to the Adapt Ability team for choosing me as the lucky winner. I feel like I've got my life back.”

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Tia had initially discovered the Omeo when she saw Cristian and Matt pitch and win investment on BBC1’s Dragons’ Den. Knowing the difference that an Omeo could make to her life she was one of over 1,000 people who entered Adapt Ability’s competition.

BBC Presenter Steve Brown, who surprised Tia with the news told her: “My Omeo has made a world of difference to me and I know that having an Omeo will open a whole new world for you too.”

Director of Adapt Ability, Cristian Brownlee, said, “We were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received but Matt and I read through every single one.

“Choosing a winner was very hard indeed as they were so many impressive and moving entries but Tia’s stood out and we are looking forward to hearing about the difference her hands-free, all-terrain Omeo will make to her life.”