A nine-year-old boy has become the youngest amputee to scale Ben Nevis and complete the Three Peaks challenge in under 24 hours.
Albie-Junior Thomas had his left foot amputated when he was 15 months old after being born with fibula hemimelia. He has been using a prosthetic leg since the age of two and dreams of competing in the Paralympics.
Record-Breaking Climb
Albie-Junior completed the Three Peaks challenge — climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales — in 22 hours and 30 minutes on 18 August, accompanied by his father Daniel, 40. Daniel said this is a world record and has submitted it to Guinness World Records.
Daniel, from Holywell, Wales, said: "A little boy from Holywell, North Wales, who has already shown the world what is possible. But what makes me most proud isn't just the mountains - it's the resilience, determination and the mental strength."
He added: "I've watched my little boy grow from a child who had to learn to walk with a prosthetic leg into a young boy who is now inspiring thousands of people around the world. And this is only the beginning."
Challenge Details
The challenge covers a total walking distance of approximately 23 miles and a total ascent of 3,064 metres. The three mountains climbed were Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles at 1,345m, Scafell Pike, the highest in England at 978m, and Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa, the highest in Wales at 1,085m, which is often the final peak.
Albie-Junior was born on 3 December 2016 with fibula hemimelia, meaning his left foot was deformed and his left leg was 5cm shorter than his right. His parents knew something was not right as it was picked up on a scan, but doctors could not tell them what until Albie-Junior was born.
Decision to Amputate
Daniel and mother Rachel Kyrki were given the option of either amputating or extending his leg by pinning. As the latter would involve a lengthy procedure, the parents agreed to have his left foot amputated when he was 15 months old.
Daniel met a man at the gym who was an amputee and went on to become a strongman, which made the decision to have Albie-Junior's foot amputated "a lot easier" and "straightforward" for the dad.
But he said he had "never felt" the way he felt after Albie-Junior was put in his arms after the amputation surgery. He said: "It crushed me inside. I felt so guilty, you're supposed to protect your child, and I felt like I was the one who'd taken his foot off."
He added: "But immediately afterwards I thought, I have no right to feel pain, this is his thing. So I got it out of my system and I made a promise to him right then and there that I was going to get him to the Paralympics one day."
Future Ambitions
Albie-Junior picked up walking as an amputee quickly and was striding around on his prosthetic leg by the time he was two. He and his dad have since ventured up many mountains together, with Albie-Junior becoming the youngest amputee to scale Mount Snowdon in 2021, aged just four.
Daniel added: "Albie-Junior has one dream which is to become a Paralympian for GB. And as his dad, I will do everything I can to help him chase that dream."
He said: "He's already shown us that limits are sometimes just something waiting to be challenged. So remember his name - because we've got so much more to come. One step at a time."
Albie-Junior also used the challenge to raise money for Holywell Town Football Club, raising over £3,000 so far.
