Kent ex-Gurkha double amputee Hari Budha Magar scales fourth peak

A former Gurkha who is climbing the highest peaks on each continent has scaled North America’s highest mountain.

Hari Budha Magar, who lives in Kent, became the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest in May 2023.

Mr Magar lost both legs Afghanistan in 2010 to an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving with the British Army.

The 45-year-old veteran gurkha and his support team spent two weeks on the ascent of Denali in Alaska, before reaching the summit last Friday.

Mr Magar said afterwards in a call via satellite phone: “Life is all about adaptation. We have shown once again that nothing is impossible.

“Thank you all for your love and support. We’ll take a couple of days to get back down and then be back in touch to tell you all about the adventure.”

Mr Magar climbed Mont Blanc in Europe in August 2019, Kilimanjaro in Africa in January 2020, Everest in Asia in 2023, and Denali this year.

To complete his goal, he must climb three more peaks – Aconcagua in South America, Puncak Jaya in Oceania and Mount Vinson in Antarctica.

The Denali climb brought a series of challenges including deep soft snow on the lower slopes, for which he learned how to snowshoe on his adapted prosthetics, and unpredictable and relentlessly cold weather.

Mr Magar was born in a remote area of Nepal before he joined the Royal Gurkha Rifles and served for 15 years.

After he lost his legs, he said he made it his mission to change perceptions of people with disabilities and inspire people to climb their own mountains and conquer their dreams.

He now lives in Canterbury with his wife and children.