Legless veteran climbs Mount Everest

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Stand on top of the world for once. It’s every mountain climber’s dream. Hundreds of them make a pilgrimage to Mount Everest every year – but not all of them return. This year alone, nine people have had an accident on the expedition to the summit.

Those who survive the journey in one piece will probably never forget it. One of them: Hari Budha Magar. His success shows his special strength. Because: The 43-year-old Nepalese had both legs amputated 13 years ago after stepping on an explosive device in the 2010 war in Afghanistan. There he was with the Gurkhas, a Nepalese unit of the British army.

Without legs to the top

Magar was not defeated. He dreamed of climbing the top of 8,849 meters. His motto: “No legs, no limits.”

So he started the ascent on May 8, after he and his team had to wait two weeks for good weather at base camp (5364 m above sea level).

He gave up on Saturday Twitter finally known: on Friday, May 19, he was at the top around 3 p.m. When he got there, he proudly shouted, “We made it!” “We” means him and his team as well as his mountain guide Krish Thapa. Without their support, success would not have been possible. Custom-made prostheses were at least as important.

Long tough climb

Over a satellite phone, he told his teammates in the lowlands, “It was tough. Harder than I could have ever imagined. We just had to keep going and pushing up, no matter how much it hurt or how long it took.”

With his success, Magar wants to inspire people with disabilities. He says: “If I can climb to the top of the world, anyone, regardless of their handicap, can achieve their dream. No matter how big the dreams are or how challenging a disability is, with the right attitude anything is possible.”

Next goal: collect donations

Meanwhile, Magar and his team have returned safely. To mark his victory, he has started a fundraising campaign for five charities. The goal: collect 884,900 pounds – the height of Mount Everest plus two zeros. That corresponds to about 988,000 francs.

Magar was the first person on Mount Everest to have both legs completely amputated. The New Zealander Mark Inglis and the Chinese Xia Boyu have already reached the top with amputated legs. Her legs were “only” missing below the knees.

Source: Blick