A former Gurkha soldier who lost his legs after being blown up in Afghanistan has become the first ever double above the knee amputee to climb Mount Everest.

Hari Budha Magar, from Canterbury, made the summit of the world’s tallest peak in an effort to change perceptions on disability and inspire people to climb their own ‘mountains’ no matter the adversity that stands in their way.

The 43-year-old had always dreamed of scaling Everest, and grew up in the Nepalese mountains before serving for 15 years as a Corporal with the Gurkha Regiment of the British Army.

Hari, who served with the 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles and fought alongside Prince Harry, was horrifically injured after stepping on a bomb in April 2010.

Remarkably, he spent just three weeks in hospital following the amputations and now walks with prosthetic legs.

Thirteen years later, after overturning a law banning disabled climbers from the mountain, he has achieved what many thought impossible and reached the top of the 8,849 metre peak.

He summited at around 3pm on Friday, May 19 having climbed alongside a world-class team of Nepalese climbers.

The team was led by expedition leader Krish Thapa, of HST Adventures, who served as the SAS’s Mountain Troop leader during a 24-year British Forces career that started like Hari as a Gurkha before 18 years in the SAS.

Over a satellite phone call, made possible by NSSL Global, to his team, he said: “That was tough. Harder than I could have ever imagined.

“We just had to carry on and push for the top, no matter how much it hurt or how long it took.

“If I can climb to the top of the world then anyone, regardless of their disability, can achieve their dream.

“When things got really tough it was the thought of my amazing family and everyone who’s helped me get onto the mountain that pushed me to the top.

“Without the support of so many this expedition simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

Hari and his climb team summited Everest 70 years after Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to conquer the world’s highest peak in May 1953.

He is raising money for five veteran charities including Team Forces, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, Pilgrim Bandits, Blesma, and On Course Foundation, with the aim of raising more than £884,900 – the height of Everest plus two zeros.

He said: “I first planned this expedition back in 2018, but it feels a little more special to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Everest’s first summit, with another world first.

“My big goals were simply to change perceptions on disability and to inspire other people to climb their own mountains.

“No matter how big your dreams, no matter how challenging your disability, with the right mindset anything is possible.”