Talk about an accomplishment! A veteran from Britain, who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan, became the first double amputee to summit the highest peak on every continent.
46-year-old mountaineer Hari Budha Magar broke the world record. His last peak he summited was in Antarctica. The veteran climbed the top of Mount Vinson on January 6. It took him three days amid -25 degree Celsius temps.
Magar said: "The climb was very tough, the conditions and difficulty meant that I was literally crawling up on all fours, battling my way up the mountain. As we took our time climbing along rocky, summit ridge, much of which I had to crawl along, I was able to look up and take in the incredible views where spectacular Antarctic mountain peaks pierced a thin layer of cloud below.
The veteran continued, "My message to the world is to everyone, whether living with a disability or able-bodied. Anything is possible with enough determination. Yes, you might need to adapt your approach, get help, or think differently, but you can do it! A disability shouldn't limit the size of your dream, or your ability to achieve it. If a family man like me from Canterbury can do it - why can't anyone else?"
Magar lost both his legs when an IED exploded in Afghanistan in 2010. Overcoming depression and addiction, Hari turned to mountain climbing. In 2018, he began his journey to climb Mount Everest. It took him four years to get clearance.
Veteran Summits Mountain
Hari said, "I'm just a normal guy who had a boyhood dream to climb Mt Everest. Losing my legs was devastating. Harder than you can ever imagine.Yet through the dark, disappointment, and loss of self-worth in the world, I was given support and love to find a way through."
The veteran continued, "That IED should have killed me, but now I had a second chance and wanted to do something positive - be an inspiration to others. So, I trained and trained and trained. I found amazing people who believed in me. They even helped design new prosthetics to allow me to physically take on the challenge. All barriers we had to overcome."
Hari added, "All of the 7 summits presented different and hugely challenge problems like the cold and snow conditions of Antarctica, but when people come together and help and you adapt processes and equipment for the needs of disabled person anything is possible! If I had the opportunity to bring my legs back today, I would actually decline because my mission in life is now to help, inspire and empower others because there is a lot of work that needs to be done around disability, so I have dedicated the rest of my life to make awareness."
