Gurkha veteran who scaled Everest receives MBE for service to disability awareness

A former Gurkha soldier and wounded Afghanistan war veteran has said he is honoured to have been made an MBE in recognition of his record-breaking work for services to disability awareness.

Hari Budha Magar, who became the first double above-the-knee amputee to reach the summit of Mount Everest, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours.

"I'm here to send a positive message around the world. This is my aim… something of hope and optimism," said Mr Budha Magar.

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"I'm delighted and honoured to be recognised for work I [am] doing," said the Gurkha veteran.

"When I lost my legs, I thought my life is finished.

"I really wasted my time, about two years of my time, just not knowing what to do and just getting depressed and trying to take my life.

"I think if I was aware of disability then I didn't have to go through all of this. I wasn't very educated and aware.

"So now my aim is to just climb the mountain and [raise] awareness of disability as much as I can."

The announcement that Mr Budha Magar would be given his MBE came as he undertook his latest mission to climb the highest peak on each continent.

After becoming an MBE, Mr Budha Magar travelled to Alaska where he plans to reach the summit of Mount Denali.

So far in his latest challenge, he has reached the summits of Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc.

The former soldier said he wants more people with disabilities "to do what they love" in terms of sport, music, politics and social work.

He said: "I think, in the Western world, people are looked at Paralympians or something like miserable, poor who live off benefits, and we need to change that perception.

"Just me being myself, I can do so much, right?

"This is why I'm supporting disabled people around the world to do whatever they like to do, so that we can make our world a slightly better place for people with a disability, but also for their families."