World Record breaking mountaineer & Pride of Britain winner, Hari Budha Magar, arrives in Antarctica for his final summit of the 7 Summits in world first attempt

Setting his sights on another mountaineering first, Hari is set to imminently start his final summit to become the first double-above-knee amputee to climb the 7 Summits - seven highest peaks, on all seven continents.

 Hari Budha Magar, the first double above-knee amputee to attempt the Seven Summits, has arrived onto Antarctica for the final stage of his historic, record-breaking attempt to climb the highest peak on each continent on Earth.

Having received last minute funding from DIGI2AL, the title partner of this climb, amongst others, Hari has today arrived at the camp in Union Glacier on Antarctica on December 30^th, 2025. Hari, who is a Pride of Britain Award winner, weather permitting will begin the ascent of Mount Vinson (4,892m), the most inaccessible and coldest peak of the whole challenge, on January 1^st, 2026, aiming to summit in the coming week.

Hari already holds a number of World Records including a Guiness World Record for being the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest in 2023. He now plans on adding to his list of record-breaking achievements by becoming the first double-above-knee amputee to climb the 7 Summits - seven highest peaks, on all seven continents.  

Having completed six of the 7 summits, his final expedition will take him just 1,200km away from the South Pole where he will battle freezing temperatures that could drop below -40°C, treacherous Arctic winds, and hazardous climbing conditions to summit the 4892m peak of Mount Vinson.

To complete the climb, Hari will have to navigate vertical slopes, rocky patches and freezing ice fields in extreme weather conditions testing his skill, endurance and prosthetic legs to breaking point.

The challenge is so extreme, Hari has worked in collaboration with prosthetic experts to create new legs, feet and sockets to cope with the harsh Antarctic conditions.  

 Speaking ahead of the final climb from Union Glacier, Hari said: “It’s exciting to finally be in Antarctica to take on the final summit of the challenge. 

“Obviously every mountain brings its own challenges, but for me these are amplified with my disability. For me Mount Vinson will be especially hard with the freezing temperatures because I use his hands more than other climbers, and there is a risk of frostbite developing inside my prosthetic limbs, which would be catastrophic as I can’t afford to loose more limbs.

“Despite the risks, for me climbing mountains is a way to make awareness of disability and show the world that there are no limits. Anything is possible. It’s about having the right mindset and adapting to the world around us.”

After losing both his legs to an IED in Afghanistan in 2010 whilst fighting for the British Army’s Gurkha regiment, Hari battled a lengthy and challenging mental and physical recovery.

Since then, Hari has repeatedly challenged the perceptions of disability, making history as the first double above knee amputee to climb Mt. Everest in 2023, Denali (the tallest mountain in North America) in 2024, and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania in 2025.

Despite everything, he said: “If I had the opportunity to bring my legs back today, I would actually decline because my mission in life is now to help, inspire and empower others because there is a lot of work that needs to be done around disability, so I have dedicated the rest of my life to make awareness.

“It’s been a long and hard journey since losing my legs in Afghanistan,” he added. “There have been some really dark times. Yet with support from family, friends; with the help from some incredible charities and communities; and with a bucket load of grit and determination, I get the chance to make a positive impact in the world.”

As part of the 7 Summits challenge, he has successfully scaled Mont Blanc, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Everest and Denali in 2024, completing ascents of Aconcagua and Puncak Jaya earlier this year.

Hari’s mission is to challenge perceptions of disability and inspire others to redefine what they believe possible. Through his climbs, he is determined to demonstrate that with the right support and belief, boundaries can be transcended and new narratives written for people of all abilities.

If successful with the final summit, the former Gurkha will break new boundaries in mountaineering as the first double above-knee amputee to complete the seven summits - a recognised feat only 500 people in history have ever achieved. 

Hari added: “Everest was a great start, but it isn’t enough to show people once. You need to do it over and over to inspire real change. Completing the 7 Summits challenge is my chance to do just that in every corner of the world.

“I hope that by successfully reaching the summit, it will inspire others to climb their own mountains and conquer their dreams, whatever that might be.

“Out of all of my achievements, helping others find their value and a place in this world, that’s been more rewarding than anything else.”

Through his seven-summit challenge, Hari is raising money for veterans’ charities including On The Ghurkha Welfare Trust, Blesma, Team Forces Course Foundation, and Pilgrim Bandits.

To donate visit https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/5346/hari-budha-magar-7-summits-charity-appeal/

Hari would like to thank his title partner DIGI2AL and partners AG1, ARC for Nepal, Barratt Redrow Developments, Branding Science, The Gurkha Welfare Trust, NAS (Niche Aviation Solutions), Ottobock, Parajumpers Clothing, Team Forces and Therabody for their amazing support. As well as supporters including Belstone Management, the Oriental Club, NSSLGlobal, SunGod Eyewear, Leki Gloves and Poles, Team 365, Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service and more.