Double amputee scales highest summit outside Asia

A Gurkha veteran who lost both legs serving in Afghanistan has set a new record becoming the first double above-knee (DAK) amputee to summit the highest peak outside of Asia.

Hari Budha Magar, from Canterbury, made history when he reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2023, becoming the first DAK amputee to attempt and complete this challenge.

He has now set another world first after making it to the top of the 6,961m (22,837ft) Mount Aconcagua, in the Andes mountain range in Argentina, on Saturday.

Mr Budha Magar, who is aiming to climb the highest peak in each of the seven continents by the end of the year, said completing this challenge had given him the confidence to finish the final two.

Speaking at Plaza de Mulas base camp at Mount Aconcagua, Mr Budha Magar said: "I'm very pleased that we made it."

The father-of-three set out with his team from Mendoza, Argentina, on 9 February, completing the challenge in under two weeks.

Mr Budha Magar joined the Royal Gurkha Rifles at the age of 19. While serving in Afghanistan he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost both legs in 2010, aged 31.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for services to disability awareness last year.

"I'm trying to do my bit to give some hope and optimism to the people with disabilities or people who are feeling low," he said.

"I'm trying to raise awareness of disability all around the world, because disabled people can do anything."

For his Seven Summits challenge he has already climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, Mount Everest the highest peak in the world, Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America, and now Mount Aconcagua.

Later this year, he will take on Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, and Mount Vinson, Antarctica, to complete his challenge.

"After summiting the second highest mountain [out of the Seven Summits challenge peaks], I think this will give me more confidence to complete the other two I have left," he said.

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