CLIMB Mt KILIMANJARO My wife’s letters of love put me on top of the world says notes kept him going on tortur e climb

summon. “In their eyes I suddenly became a lion, the strongest, bravest animal there is,” said James.

“In Tanzania, if you’re disabled you don’t do anything challenging. So to the guides I was amazing.

“But I basically walked like a monkey for 80 per cent of the time, with my knuckles taking a lot of the strain.” James got into horrendous difficulties right at the very start of the climb.

He said: “I realised at the end of the first day that the rubbing had caused a gash to open on the skin of one stump.

“The cup at the top of my prosthetic was filled with a mixture of blood and sweat. I knew I just had to keep it clean and keep going.

“If anything, the pain was a useful distraction from the exhaustion I was feeling.” But it all went away for a few unforgettable moments when the team reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

James said: “For about 15 minutes all of the pain disappeared. The nausea from my altitude sickness went and I felt simply euphoric.”

He did not read Naiomi’s final note until he was back at the bottom – and he admits it brought tears to his eyes.

She wrote: “Not long to go until I will be seeing you. I’ve washed all the bedding and have nice goodies waiting for you. Can’t wait for a kiss and a cuddle – and to make babies.” The pair were reunited on Wednesday when he stepped off the train in Middlesbrough straight into her arms. James said: “That hug and kiss was something I’d been dreaming of for so long. It meant everything to me. I could not love Naiomi more.”

But he admitted: “Once she understands what I went through I’m not sure how keen she will be when I set my sights on my next challenge!”

James is raising money to fund his climb and for Help For Heroes and The Royal British Legion. Visit www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ road-to-kili