Kathmandu: Hari Budha Magar, a former British Army, who lost his legs while serving in Afghanistan has become the first double above-knee amputee to conquer Mount Everest.
Magar reached the 8,849-meter peak on Friday, 13 years after losing his legs following an IED explosion.
Speaking via satellite phone he said it was harder than he could have ever imagined. “We just had to carry on and push for the top, no matter how much it hurt or how long it took,” he said. “If I can climb to the top of the world then anyone, regardless of their disability, can achieve their dream.
“No matter how big your dreams, no matter how challenging your disability, with the right mindset anything is possible.”
Magar is also the first double above-knee amputee to climb several mountains including Mera Peak and Chulu Far East.
He is the first person who lost both his legs below the knee who trekked to Everest Base Camp with the help of artificial legs. Budhamgar has climbed Mont Blanc (4,810 meters), Chulu Far East (6,059 meters), Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters), and Mera Peak (6,476 meters).
He climbed Mera Chuchu in 2017 and became the first above-knee (both amputees) double amputee to climb the mountain above 6,000 meters. He was born in 1979 in Mirul village in Rolpa district. He has also made a record by becoming the first person who went ‘skydiving’ reaching the Everest base camp with the help of artificial legs.
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