'Thoughts of my son kept me going' says double amputee Gurkha who conquered Everest

A Gurkha veteran who became the first double amputee to climb Mount Everest says the thought of his son kept him going as his oxygen supply was running down.

Hari Budha Magar, who was injured 13 years ago while serving in Afghanistan, completed the 8,849m peak challenge and said he was motivated to make it home thanks to the thought of his young son who was waiting for him at Base Camp.

He had promised the 10-year-old, one of his three children, that he would return back to him as the boy had been especially worried about his dad making the climb.

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Speaking to Forces News, he said: "If we need to make a difference, I think we need to think differently. Work harder and take slightly more risk, and we did.

"I think massively that my military work, walking in the night, and the whole day, without water, without food sometimes, survival training, and military training, helped definitely."

The former corporal served for 15 years in the Gurkha Regiment before he was wounded in 2010.

He lost both of his legs when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED).

The money he raised during his incredible climb will be used to help the five charities that aided him with his recovery: The Gurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Blesma, Pilgrim Bandits and Team Forces.

Safety was a major concern during the climb, and Hari was worried about running out of oxygen while on the mountain but remained motivated to complete the climb by thinking about his son.

He added: "It was harder than I thought, especially once we went up to the summit. Just five of us who were able to go, as many guys turned back.

"We were the last people coming down the mountain."

He added: "I had a lot of things on my mind. I promised myself that I would make it back for my son in Base Camp.

"I thought: 'We're not here to die. Just keep it going until you run out of oxygen and even if you run out of oxygen you keep it going as much as you can so hopefully someone will come and maybe rescue us.' 

"I thought that quite a few times."