Historic first: Amputee veteran battles through to complete world's toughest trek
An Armed Forces veteran has battled through the hardest thing he's ever done to achieve a world first, completing Bhutan's Full Snowman Trek – conquering some of the most challenging terrain on the planet.
Former British Army captain Rich Potter, who has a below-knee amputation, became the first amputee to complete the 310km trek across the rugged and unforgiving terrain of the Himalayas.
"When I lost my leg five years ago, I truly believed my life was over, but little did I know that my life was only just beginning!" he told BFBS Forces News.
The ex-Army officer and his teammate, former RAF corporal Rich 'Dickie' Davies, had previously become the first amputees to hike to Bhutan's Tigers Nest Monastery and the first to complete the Half Snowman Trek.
The pair have been friends since forming a strong bond on their shared journey on the Invictus Games – the international multi-sport event launched in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex.
They took on the challenge to reset the limits of what's possible for amputees.
However, Dickie was saddened to have had to make the decision to withdraw after the halfway point due to severe swelling in his stump, which prevented him from fitting his prosthetic.
Despite this setback, Rich continued, ultimately reaching the finish line after many tough days that tested his endurance and mental resilience.
The former British Army officer said: "It's the hardest thing I've ever done, mentally, physically and emotionally! That includes when I was a two-legged weirdo!
"I hope we have shown the world what can be achieved. The mind is a powerful tool and we all have the ammunition in our armoury, we just have to use it.
"There were days when I was really struggling; a bleeding stump, -15°, horizontal rain and snow and looking at the watch to see there's still 13km to go that day, but my military training equipped me with the tools I needed to push through and every night I arrived in camp I would reset and prepare to go again."
Reflecting on their mission, the team shared on Instagram that the trek "tested our mental fortitude to the max" as they navigated difficult conditions by carefully placing their prosthetic feet for the best grip, moving "step after step after step".
The veterans set out wanting to dispel the myth and change the narrative on society's view of disabled people's abilities.
In addition to their remarkable accomplishments, the expedition also aims to raise funds for Blesma, the military limbless charity, and the Royal British Legion, two organisations that they said had had a profound impact on their lives.
The team encourage supporters to donate or share their story, emphasising the importance of raising awareness about the capabilities of disabled veterans.
Donations can be made via their JustGiving page.
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