22/05/2023

Gurkha veteran Hari Budha Magar conquers Mount Everest

Hari, pictured here at Mera Peak, said summiting Mount Everest was an incredibly tough challenge.

Our Ambassador Hari Budha Magar, veteran of The Royal Gurkha Rifles, has made history as the first ever double above-knee amputee to summit the world’s highest mountain.

After a superhuman effort, Hari stood victorious at the summit on 19 May after an incredibly tough climb.

Al Howard, CEO of The Gurkha Welfare Trust, said:

“Hari personifies what it means to be a Gurkha. He is a true inspiration to have conquered the world’s tallest mountain in the face of such adversity. We congratulate him on this extraordinary achievement. Shyabash Hari!”

Hari and the team at the Everest summit. Photo credit Shanta Nepali Productions

Hari, a 43 year-old veteran of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, took on this challenge to raise awareness of disability and changing perceptions on what is possible.

“As a team we pushed hard and five us made it to the summit. My brother, Nanda Bahadur Budha Magar, Mingma Sharpa, Pasang Sherpa, Jit Bahadur Tamang and I did it! We reached the top of the world!”

It took Hari and his team 25 hours climbing from Camp 4 to the summit, and then back down to Camp 4.

“The journey wasn’t easy, we had to make some tough decisions along the way, but we made it,” Hari said. “The climb didn’t go entirely to plan because of weather conditions…we had to get back down with little oxygen, very late in the day for an Everest summit with an ice storm coming in.

“This experience has really hit home for me that if we are passionate, disciplined, work hard and believe in ourselves, nothing can stop us from achieving our dream. We proved that nothing is impossible.”

The ultimate test of strength and endurance

Reaching the 8,848.86m Everest summit was the ultimate test for Hari. The human body is not designed to operate at that altitude. Add to that his own challenges with reduced mobility and speed, and there is a whole new layer of difficulty to navigate. Hari is three times slower than able-bodied climbers because his gait is so short. Through the expedition, Hari aims to change perceptions on what is possible showing that with the right mindset everyone, irrespective of their disability, can climb “their own mountain”.

“I would like to give courage to others to climb their own mountain, whatever that might be, and follow their dreams,” said Hari. “We can achieve anything if we have a positive attitude and right mindset and adapt our life according to a particular time and situation.”

Hari became an Ambassador for The Gurkha Welfare Trust in 2022 and champions our work supporting Gurkha veterans and their communities in Nepal.

Following his dream

Hari lost both of his legs in Afghanistan to an IED in 2010. In 2018, he helped get Nepal officials to overturn the rule which banned people with disabilities from climbing Everest.

“Just a few years ago, someone with a disability like me wouldn’t have been allowed to attempt Everest, but here we are about to take on the world’s tallest mountain. I would like to give courage to others to climb their own mountain whatever that might be and follow their dreams,” said Hari.

Visit Hari’s website to find out more about his life and incredible achievements.

Hari is also attempting to fundraise 100 times the height of Mt. Everest (£884,900), for the charities that have supported him through his journey: The Gurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Blesma, Pilgrim Bandits and Team Forces. You can donate to his Crowdfunder campaign here.