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Poole amputee soldier makes history on Matterhorn summit | Poole amputee soldier makes history on Matterhorn summit |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A former soldier has become the first above-the-knee double amputee to scale the Matterhorn. | A former soldier has become the first above-the-knee double amputee to scale the Matterhorn. |
Neil Heritage, 39, from Poole, Dorset, reached the peak of the mountain on the Swiss-Italian border with supporters on his third attempt in three years. | |
The ex-corporal, who lost his legs to a suicide bomb in Iraq in 2004, said he was "over the moon". | The ex-corporal, who lost his legs to a suicide bomb in Iraq in 2004, said he was "over the moon". |
Mr Heritage, who runs a charity for injured veterans, is planning to kayak the Amazon river in 2021. | Mr Heritage, who runs a charity for injured veterans, is planning to kayak the Amazon river in 2021. |
His two previous attempts to conquer the 4,478m (14,692ft) Alpine peak were foiled by bad weather. | His two previous attempts to conquer the 4,478m (14,692ft) Alpine peak were foiled by bad weather. |
His co-climber Mark Hooks said: "It was just so special, managing to achieve something we've worked so hard on over the years." | His co-climber Mark Hooks said: "It was just so special, managing to achieve something we've worked so hard on over the years." |
Mr Hooks said his friend's specially-designed prosthetic limb fell off near the summit and took more than 20 minutes to reattach. | Mr Hooks said his friend's specially-designed prosthetic limb fell off near the summit and took more than 20 minutes to reattach. |
In a Facebook video, posted from a mountain hut on the descent, he said Mr Heritage was "absolutely blitzed" and too exhausted to speak. | In a Facebook video, posted from a mountain hut on the descent, he said Mr Heritage was "absolutely blitzed" and too exhausted to speak. |
Since losing his legs, Mr Heritage has completed triathlons, learned to ski and rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in the Row2Recovery team. | Since losing his legs, Mr Heritage has completed triathlons, learned to ski and rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in the Row2Recovery team. |
The Matterhorn ascent has raised more than £6,000 for Mr Heritage's charity Climb 2 Recovery. | The Matterhorn ascent has raised more than £6,000 for Mr Heritage's charity Climb 2 Recovery. |
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