I'm excited that this is my last mountain

Ex-Gurkha begins final ascent

- BY HANNAH BRITT

Heroic Hari Budha Magar has set off in freezing temperatures on his final push to become the first double above knee amputee to complete the seven summits challenge.

If the ex-Gurkha conquers Mount Vinson's 4,892m of icy slopes in Antarctica he will have climbed the highest peaks in the world's seven continents.

Hari, a 2024 Pride of Britain winner who lost his legs to an IED in Afghanistan in 2010, spoke to the Mirror by satellite phone from Union Glacier in the Ellsworth Mountains of West Antarctica.

He said: "It's sunny but very cold here, around -12C. There's no night time, only daylight.

"Nature is so powerful, we have to respect her. We need the wind to stay calm, little planes here can't fly when there's a snow blizzard."

The dad-of-three, who was awarded an MBE for services to disability awareness, is aiming to raise £884,900 - the height of Everest plus two 00s - for five charities. He flew to Vinson Base Camp to get acclimatised and has now set off to Low Camp (2,780m).

From there his goal is High Camp (3,770m) and then the summit - where he will plant a Mirror flag.