Amputee who lost both legs completes 13-hour crawl up Mount Snowdon
He had been left with blisters on his stumps and on his hands, while he had sore wrists, but despite the wounds, it was worthwhile.
[Aug 30, 2021: John Toner]
An amputee who lost both his legs completed a gruelling 13-hour crawl up Mount Snowdon on his hands and knees.
Paul Ellis, who had his legs removed after a bad fall in 1992 caused a spinal injury, committed to tackling Wales’ highest mountain in a bid to raise money and awareness for amputee children.
The 56-year-old was determined that his amputation wouldn’t stop him tackling the gruelling nine mile (14.5km) Llanberis route.
The father of two, of Widness, Cheshire, wore thick gardening gloves on his hands and protective knee pads but still ended up with blisters during the 3,560ft climb.
He was cheered on by other climbers as he headed towards the summit.
While he conquered the first three miles in about three hours, he said the last two miles took him more like nine hours.
"I've got a few blisters on my stumps, blisters on my hands, you're putting your wrist down all the time so my wrists got quite sore,” he said. "But with all the support of the people on the mountain saying 'come on you can do it', that spurs you on.”
"It's a challenge and that's why I wanted to do it - to raise awareness and funds for the kids. It's a hard challenge but one that's worth doing."
His fundraising will help pay for six amputee children and their families to go for a paid holiday to Tenerife.
He was lucky to have people bringing him food and water, Paul said, with the support making it an enjoyable day.
After completing the admirable challenge, he camped out at the peak overnight before starting the walk down the next day.
Two members of the charity Amp Camp brought his prosthetic legs to him, according to BBC reports .
These aided his walk back down on Saturday morning.
Paul had an accident in 1992 and was left in pain and with limited mobility so chose to have a double amputation in 2008 and be fitted with prosthetic legs.
He said: "I went from not being able to walk at all and only being able to stand for about five minutes to going to climb mountains and stuff.
"It's not the end of your life if you lose a limb."
Mr Ellis also climbed Ben Nevis, with a group of 10 other amputees, earlier this month.
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