Hari Buddha Magar became the first double above-knee amputee to climb Mt Everest in May 2023. This achievement came after his ascent to Mont Blanc (France-Italy) in 2019 and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) in 2020. With a goal to climb the highest peak on each continent, Hari recently ascended Mt Denali (North America) and by 2026, he hopes to complete Punak Jaya (Oceania), Aconcagua (South America) and Mount Vinson (Antarctica). Hari was awarded an MBE in June 2024 for his service to raise awareness around disabilities and raising £884,000 for five charities.
Hari’s resilience can be traced back to his childhood in Nepal where he grew up as a farmer’s son in the foothills of the Himalayas against the backdrop of a civil war. His journey to school involved a 45-minute walk barefoot, often experiencing headaches as a result of the altitude being 2,700 metres above sea level.
At the age of 19 Hari joined the British Army under the Royal Gurkha Rifles. In 2010 whilst posted in Afghanistan, Hari stepped on an explosive device which led to him losing both of his legs above the knee. Returning to the UK, Hari struggled with his confidence and feelings of shame at being disabled which pushed him into drinking heavily. After being fitted with prosthetic legs, with support from a veteran’s mental health charity and through engaging in sports and adventure activities, Hari started to regain his confidence. In addition to his world record on Everest, Hari is the first disabled person to Ski in Nepal.
Image Source: @hari_budha_magar on X