In an extraordinary feat of human resilience, a former Gurkha and Pride of Britain award winner has made mountaineering history. Hari Budha Magar, a double above-the-knee amputee, has become the first person with his level of disability to complete the legendary Seven Summits challenge. The 46-year-old sealed his record-breaking achievement by summiting Mount Vinson in Antarctica on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
From the Depths of Despair to the Top of the World
Hari's journey to this moment is as remarkable as the climb itself. In 2010, just two weeks into a tour in Afghanistan, his life changed forever when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). The blast resulted in the loss of both his legs. He survived only due to the swift actions of fellow soldiers and a nearby helicopter. In the aftermath, grappling with profound despair, Hari attempted to take his own life.
His turning point came through an unexpected skydiving trip, which ignited a passion for adaptive sports. This new-found courage led him to mountaineering, a pursuit that would redefine his purpose. In 2023, he successfully summited Mount Everest, a monumental accomplishment in its own right. But Hari set his sights even higher: the complete Seven Summits.
Conquering the 'Impossible' on Prosthetic Legs
The Seven Summits challenge requires climbers to reach the highest peak on each of the world's continents. It is widely regarded as the planet's most coveted mountaineering achievement. Hari tackled each mountain on specially designed prosthetic legs, engineered to handle snow, ice, and extreme altitudes.
His final summit, the 4,892-metre Mount Vinson in Antarctica, was a gruelling test. Hari described perilous conditions with high winds, freezing temperatures, and treacherous terrain riddled with crevasses. "Every couple of minutes, I doubted myself. It was so hard. So painful," he confessed to The Mirror after his success. "My legs weren't working properly sometimes. My fingers were freezing, my face was freezing and burning."
Upon reaching the summit, he planted a Mirror flag, marking his historic victory. "At the top it was amazing, such a beautiful view," he said. "My goggles became foggy with tears. You could see what felt like the whole of Antarctica... It was majestic. Otherworldly."
Due to current geopolitical restrictions making Mount Elbrus in Russia inaccessible, Hari scaled France's Mont Blanc (4,808m) as a substitute. This adaptation has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records, cementing his completion of the challenge.
A Legacy of Inspiration and Charity
Hari's monumental effort was driven by more than personal glory. He undertook the challenge to raise an ambitious £884,900 for five charities close to his heart: the Gurkha Welfare Trust, BLESMA, Pilgrim Bandits, On Course Foundation, and Team Forces. Born in a cow shed in Nepal, Hari joined the British Army's Gurkha regiment at 19, serving for 15 years across five continents before his life-altering injury.
Now living in Canterbury, Kent, with his wife Urmila and their three children, Hari has dedicated his life to shifting perceptions about disability. In 2024, he was awarded an MBE for services to disability awareness and won a Pride of Britain Award, meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
"Hopefully, our historic climb and completion of the Seven Summits will send a positive message around the world that anything is possible," Hari stated. "I was told ‘no’, ‘you can’t do it’, ‘it’s too dangerous’, ‘this is not for you’ so many times - as many disabled people are. But look at me now! I want to inspire people to climb their own mountains."
With the climbing challenge complete, Hari's next venture is to put his life story into print, with a book set to be published by Mirror Books later this year. "It’s time to put pen to paper!" he declared, ready to inspire a new audience with his message of unwavering hope and determination.
