Gurkhas

It's a hero's welcome for double amputee Gurkha veteran who conquered Mount Everest

Watch: Gurkha veteran is first double amputee to climb Mount Everest.

Gurkha veteran Hari Budha Magar has arrived back home in Kathmandu to a hero's welcome, after becoming the first double above knee amputee to scale the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.

With the streets lined with well-wishers, Hari arrived from Basecamp by helicopter, before being transported into the city where he was greeted and congratulated by Sudan Kirati, the Foreign Minister of Nepal and a crowd of supporters.

During the celebratory event, Hari received a message of congratulations from President Ram Chandra Poudel, before going to meet Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in person.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal congratulated Hari on his extraordinary courage to summit Everest and thanked him for showing that if you commit to something, with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.

About his welcome back to Kathmandu, Hari said: "The support has been unbelievable, just amazing.

"The whole aim of this expedition was to change perceptions – and the huge amount of support we have had has shown that we are doing just that.

Gurkha veteran Hari Budha Magar with his father and brother at the Kathmandu hero's welcome CREDIT Kiran Acharya — Hari with his father and brother at the Kathmandu hero's welcome (Picture: Kiran Acharya).

"It's thanks to an amazing team that we not only summited, but that we all made it back safe.

"It is as much their achievement as it is mine – and together I hope that we can make the world a better place."

Among the crowd and by Hari's side, was the Gurkha veteran's father, Purai Budha Magar, 73.

To one reporter he said: "I'm really happy about their achievements."

Gurkha veteran Hari Budha Magar arrives back into Kathmandu CREDIT Kiran Acharya — Hari arrives back into Kathmandu (Picture: Kiran Acharya).

Hari will now spend a few days in Kathmandu before flying back to the UK where he will be reunited with the rest of his family.

The soldier, who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan, is urging supporters from around the world to dig deep as he raises money for five veteran charities: Team Forces, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, Pilgrim Bandits, Blesma, and On Course Foundation, with the aim of raising more than £884,900, the height of Everest plus two zeros.