Former Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar MBE has earned his fifth Guinness World Record after becoming the first double above-amputee to conquer the Seven Summits, climbing the seven tallest mountains on every continent on earth.
After being severely injured by an IED in Afghanistan, Hari channelled his recovery into adventure and mountaineering, determined to serve as a role model for injured soldiers and for those who may face similar challenges in the future.
His newest achievement forms part of this year's Guinness World Records Icons campaign, recognising record holders whose achievements have inspired people far beyond the records themselves.
A monumental challenge for any climber, the Seven Summits is one of the most coveted accomplishments in mountaineering.
From the humid rainforests and alpine deserts of Kilimanjaro to the shifting icefalls and unforgiving death zone of Everest, each mountain presented its own unique challenge.
Hari completed the Seven Summits in January, after summitting Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and previously told BFBS Forces News he hoped his legacy would create awareness of disability and "inspire others to climb their own mountain, whatever that might be".
Six years in the making, the mission began in 2019 at the summit of Mont Blanc in France.
Because Mount Elbrus – Europe's tallest mountain, located in Russia – is currently off limits to Western tourists, Mont Blanc was recognised by the Guinness World Record as an alternative.
Conquering the continents
The seven summits were:
:: Mont Blanc (4,806 m), France/Italy: Summit reached on 13 August 2019
:: Kilimanjaro (5,895m), Tanzania: Summit reached on 8 January 2020
:: Everest (8,848m), Nepal/Tibet, China: Summit reached on 19 May 2023
:: Denali/McKinley (6,193 m), Alaska, USA: Summit reached on 28 June 2024
:: Aconcagua (6,961m), Argentina: Summit reached on 22 February 2025
:: Puncak Jaya (4,884m), Papua, Indonesia: Summit reached on 18 October 2025
:: Vinson (4,987m), Antarctica: Summit reached on 6 January 2026
Speaking to The Mirror after receiving the news of his fifth Guinness World Record, Hari said: "Climbing the world's highest peaks was incredibly tough. I went through hell and back.
"There were times I thought we'd have to give up, and other times when our lives were in danger, but I achieved the impossible, and I'm over the moon to receive this."
Hari, who has been awarded an MBE and is also a Pride of Britain award winner, has donated the money raised from his seven peaks challenge – which currently stands at almost £50,000 – to veterans' charities including as On The Gurkha Welfare Trust, Blesma, Team Forces Course Foundation and Pilgrim Bandits.
Impossible is not a fact; it's an opinion
And it seems record-breaking achievements run in the blood of the Gurkhas.
Nimsdai Purja, a former Gurkha and special forces veteran, has also etched his name into mountaineering history with his own historic achievement: 56 successful ascents of the world's 8,000-metre peaks – including 28 without supplemental oxygen – and the fastest person in history to climb from the summit of Mount Everest to neighbouring Lhotse.
On 28 May, after reaching the summit of Everest for the 10th time without supplemental oxygen, Nimsdai continued directly to Lhotse, reaching its summit in a record-breaking 13 hours and 42 minutes.
It is another cap in the already crowded bow for Nimsdai, whose accolades include the first winter ascent of K2, climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in six months and six days, and the fastest ascent of all 14 without supplemental oxygen.
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