Chilly nether regions at the bottom of the world

A former Canterbury schoolboy who trekked across the Antarctic finished the daunting challenge two weeks ahead of schedule.

Alex Brazier, son of city MP Sir Julian Brazier, was exposed to temperatures of minus 50 degrees celsius during the unsupported 1,100-mile polar expedition across the most inhospitable place on earth.

The 26-year-old doctor, who went to Junior King’s in Canterbury, was part of a team of six Army Reservists who spent two years training for the expedition.

Having set off on November 15, they reached their destination on January 20.

Speaking via satellite phone from a logistics facility in Antarctica, Alex told the Kentish Gazette: “It’s amazing to have done it.

“As a team, we worked amazingly well together, always supporting one another. It was a very strong solid group.”

The team, known as the South Pole Expedition Army Reservists 2017 (SPEAR17), skiied across the ice pulling a 300lb-sled con- taining their shelters and food. They resupplied at the South Pole before continuing. Each man consumed 6,500 calories a day and Alex says he managed to lose the least weight, shedding just six-and-half pounds.

Early into the trek Alex admitted that he had been suffering with chilly nether regions, but says that by the end of his journey a sore nose was his biggest problem.

He said: “The trek was physically demanding and skiing all day in those conditions meant that it was a fairly monastic lifestyle.

“It’s great to have done it and to have done it two weeks early. I am also very pleased that we managed to get through it without major problems.”

The team took on the trek in memory of Henry Worsley, who last year set out to become the first person to complete the feat solo and unsupported. He died from exhaustion and dehydration 120 miles before the end.

By completing it, the team has doubled the number of people to have crossed Antarctica unsupported.

Team leader Lou Rudd said: “More people have landed on the moon than have walked across the continent of Antarctica. We are following in the footsteps of explorers like Ernest Shackleton and Captain Scott. My friend and fellow adventurer Henry joins

‘More people have landed on the moon than have walked across the continent of Antarctica’

those Polar greats as he tested himself to the limits of endurance. In Henry’s memory, we finished what he started.”

The team will fly to Chile before making the journey home.

Log on to www.spear17.org for more about the trip