Amputees Summit Kilimanjaro

By Leanne Hyland

Outdoor headlines

13 August 2010 16:36

Three US amputee war veterans successfully climbed Mt Kilimanjaro on Sunday in an attempt to inspire others with disabilities.

Neil Duncan, 26, Kirk Bauer, 62, and Dan Nevins, 37 - veterans of Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iraq, conquered unforgiving terrains on their treacherous six day hike ascending Africa’s highest peak at 5,981m.

Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA, Bauer commented, “If three amputees with literally one good leg can climb Kilimanjaro, our other disabled friends can get out and lead a healthy life. No matter what disability you have you can be active”.

The men, who have only one remaining leg between them, had a route planned specifically for them by mountain guides which took six days to complete, rather than a tourists three or four day average.

High altitudes left the group struggling to breathe on day five when they hiked from 15,500ft to 19,000ft in a 12 hour long ascent before reaching the summit the following day.

“The feeling was total exhaustion and total exhilaration”, said Bauer after reaching the top, “It was spectacular”.

The group aims to provide many more opportunities for people with disabilities, helping them to increase their confidence, independence and fitness through sport and recreational programmes.