Disabled Army vet conquers mountain
AMPUTEE’S GRUELLING CLIMB ORDEAL
A DOUBLE amputee Army veteran from Teesside has conquered the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
In an emotional statement, James Rose said climbing Kilimanjaro had “ruined” him but, alongside the horrific times, there were good times as he completed the slog to reach the top of the world on Sunday.
“Kilimanjaro has ruined me. Made it to the top with no help.
“There was (sic) good times and horrific times. Times I just couldn’t be bothered anymore,” said James, from Marton.
“But I got moving somehow and conquered the highest freestanding mountain in the world. The altitude was horrible at the top, breathing heavy, feeling sick and dizzy and everything just feels so heavy. The terrain was basically sandy gravel from the bottom to the top. WE DID IT!”
The inspirational
31-year-old climbed the 19,000ft peak using only his prosthetic legs in a bid to become the first abovethe-knee military amputee to conquer Kilimanjaro unaided, sometimes trekking for 14 hours a day during the climb.
James needed four years of treatment and fought a long battle to get back on the road to health and wellbeing after stepping on a bomb in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, almost 10 years ago.
The Boro fan, a former pupil at Kings Manor School, lost both of his legs in the blast.
The altitude was horrible at the top, breathing heavy, feeling sick
and dizzy
James Rose
He has spent the last six months training for the trek up the Tanzanian mountain and on Sunday he thanked the team of sherpas and guides who accompanied him along the arduous route.
Congratulations were quick to flood in with social media users applauding his massive achievement.