A Nepalese veteran has become the first double leg amputee to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Hari Budha Magar reached the summit at 3 p.m. last Friday, after starting his climb on April 17, 13 years after losing his legs in Afghanistan.
Anyone familiar with the history of conflicts knows the legendary bravery and exceptionalism of the Gurkhas, and Hari is one of those individuals.
“I grew up in Nepal until the age of 19, and I saw how disabled people were treated in those remote villages,” he explains.
“Many people still believe that disability is a sin from a past life and that you are a burden to the earth. I myself shared this belief.”
He tried to take his own life several times but then decided to attempt climbing Everest instead.
The Nepalese government had banned disabled people from climbing the mountain.
With enough lives lost on Everest each year, the authorities saw no reason to take the risk.
However, Hari managed to overcome this obstacle and prepare for the real adventure.
“All my jackets were completely frozen,” he noted. “Everything was frozen. Even our hot water in the thermos, we couldn’t drink it.”
He used a series of different interchangeable devices for the ascent, including some equipped with ice picks and others with mountaineering boots.
Once his mission is complete, Hari plans to go back to the place where he lost his legs in Afghanistan to say “thank you,” as if he still had his legs, he would have never climbed Everest.
Share the journey of this inspiring man who rose from the depths of despair to reach the summit of the rock.
