Gurkha who lost both his legs in Afghanistan explosion makes history by scaling Mount Everest
- Hari Budha Magar completed the feat 70 years after Sir Edmund Hillary’s climb
- He grew up in Nepal before serving 15 years as a corporal with Gurkha regiment
A former British Army Gurkha who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan has become the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest.
Hari Budha Magar completed the gruelling feat 70 years after Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to conquer the mountain.
The 43-year-old said: ‘If I can climb to the top of the world, then anyone, regardless of their disability, can achieve their dream.’
Mr Magar grew up in the Nepalese mountains before serving 15 years as a corporal with the Gurkha regiment of the British Army, losing both his legs in an improvised explosive device blast in 2010.
He reached the 29,000ft peak at around 3pm on Friday.
The former British Army Gurkha who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan has become the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest
Hari Budha Magar climbing to camp two. He lost both his legs in an improvised explosive device blast in 2010
The father of three has since returned to base camp, where he said via satellite phone yesterday: ‘That was tough. Harder than I could have imagined. We just had to carry on and push for the top, no matter how much it hurt or how long it took.
‘When things got really tough it was the thought of my amazing family and everyone who’s helped me get on to the mountain that pushed me to the top.’
Mr Magar is raising money for five veteran charities: Team Forces, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, Pilgrim Bandits, Blesma, and On Course Foundation.
His Everest appeal can be supported at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/harieverestappeal.
