A double amputee from Canterbury is training to reach the summit of Mount Everest in a climb that will be a world first.

Having served in the British Army’s Ghurka regiment for 15 years, Hari Budha Magar, lost both his legs in 2010 in Afghanistan after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded while on patrol.

Now, the former soldier is training to take on the world's tallest mountain in May next year – and hopes to make history as the first double above-the-knee amputee to do so.

Through his expedition, he hopes to inspire others with disabilities.

But first, Mr Magar needs to raise more than £300,000 and has started a crowdfunding campaign.

So far, he has raised more than £37,200.

“Everest is my ultimate challenge,” Mr Magar said.

“The human body is just not designed to operate at that altitude.

"But add to that my challenges with mobility and speed, and there is a whole new layer of difficulty.

“It’ll take me longer than able bodied climbers, so I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll be starting earlier and finishing later.

"We’ve also planned two extra camps if they are needed.

“That means more kit, and a greater risk for all of us on the mountain – so we are planning out every detail.”

Mr Magar moved to Barton Road in Canterbury in 2009, the year before the accident.

With reduced mobility, Mr Magar uses three times more energy than the average climber, with Everest expecting to take him three times longer than an able-bodied mountaineer.

The 43-year-old is being trained by, and will be climbing with, Krishna Thapa, former Chief Mountain Instructor at the SAS and world-renowned climber.

He will climb to the 29,029ft summit of Everest across the South Col route from Nepal, negotiating some of the world’s toughest mountaineering conditions.

Mr Magar added: “From specially designed crampons to the heated sockets around my stumps and the short prosthetic legs I’ll be using for the climb – we are developing new technologies that will allow me to climb Everest.

“But it’s much more than that, everything needs to be adapted to get me onto the mountain right down to made to measure clothing.”

The dad has dreamt of scaling the world’s tallest peak since he was a child, having grown up in western Nepal.

But organising the climb has been a challenge in itself for Mr Magar who had to fight to be allowed to do it.

In 2018, he joined forces with other climbers and disability charities to successfully overturn a ban on double amputees and the visually impaired from climbing Everest at the Supreme Court in Nepal.

The Nepalese tourism ministry previously made the rule to try and reduce the number of deaths on the mountain.

Mr Magar added: “It’s already been an adventure getting to this point, but through the climb I hope we can positively transform the way people with a disability are perceived, and how they perceive themselves.

Krishna Thapa, who is Hari’s climbing and expedition leader said: “I’ve worked with some tough guys in my time, but Hari is up there with the toughest.

“If he puts his mind to a task, you are damn sure that he’s going to give it every fibre of his being to get the job done.

“There are no words to describe the monumental challenge that he’s undertaking, but we’ll be there every step of the way – and this time next year I can’t wait to share that special moment with Hari on top of the world.”

To support the fundraiser, click here.