Film of the flight of woman before she crashed in paragliding accident in Sutherland to be shown at COP26 climate conference in Glasgow
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Both the 20-minute film and a separate hour-long TV documentary by actress Joanna Lumley will be a tribute to cameraman Dan Burton (54) who died in the crash.
Australian biologist Sacha Dench (43) suffered serious injuries in the September 18 incident, and is still recovering in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she has undergone surgery.
The pair had been in the final stages of a challenge to circumnavigate Britain to raise awareness of climate change and collided close to Loch Na Gainmhich near Kylesku.
The film of her journey will be shown by Conservation Without Borders (CWB) – the Devon-based charity she founded – on November 12 at the conference, which will draw delegates from around the world.
An ITV documentary fronted by Ms Lumley is also set to be screened at the beginning of next month, also using footage shot by father-of-two Mr Burton.
“It is desperately sad what has happened, but there is a legacy of this wonderful imagery and photography, and it will be presented as a tribute to Dan,” said Jackie Pedersen, spokesperson for CWB.
“Sacha was going to be delivering her message personally at COP26, but obviously that will not be possible now, but this film will help make the point.
“She had met so many amazing people (on her flight) and heard so many fantastic stories. She was only five days away from the end of the journey.
“Sacha is grateful to NHS Scotland for the wonderful treatment she has received, but she is likely to remain in hospital for a while yet.”
CWB will be a presence at COP26, in the Green Zone at Glasgow Science Centre on November 8 and 10, where, it says, “we will share these inspirational stories and partnerships” garnered along the circumnavigation.
“As per the wishes of both families, CWB will continue our work to bring people from different walks of life together to uncover problems and find solutions in order to protect our planet,” the group added.
Miss Lumley was a keen supporter of Miss Dench’s Round Britain Climate Challenge.
After last month’s accident she issued a statement saying: “Please say how heartbroken I am, and that Dan was the best company, brave as a lion and an expert in his field.
“All thoughts and prayers are with his family and with Sacha, who is the best of the best, and has become a darling friend.”
Miss Dench, chief executive of CWB, had already been nicknamed the “human swan” for highlighting the plight of Bewick’s swans by flying from the Russian Arctic to the UK.
In 2016, she became the first woman to fly across the Channel using a motorised paraglider.
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