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Amputee Climbs Everest on Prosthetics
21 Dec
Summary
- Hari Budha Magar, a double above-knee amputee, summited Everest in 2023.
- He overcame PTSD and alcoholism after losing legs in Afghanistan.
- Magar advocates for disability rights, having won a legal battle for amputee climbers.
In May 2023, Hari Budha Magar, a double above-knee amputee, reached the summit of Mount Everest, fulfilling a childhood dream. His ascent of the world's highest peak on prosthetic legs is a testament to his resilience and determination. Magar's journey began with a childhood fascination with mountains in Nepal, but his life took a dramatic turn when he lost both legs to an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2010.
Following the amputation, Magar battled severe PTSD and alcoholism, even attempting suicide. A life-changing skydiving experience in 2012 reignited his hope, inspiring him to research possibilities for disabled individuals. This led him to pursue climbing Everest, overcoming a Nepalese law that prohibited double amputees from scaling peaks above 6,500 meters. Magar successfully campaigned for this law to be overturned, paving the way for his historic climb.
