Pritchard And Andrew Succeed On Kilimanjaro

An all-disabled climbing team including Englishman Paul Pritchard and Scot, Jamie Andrew, has succeeded in climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

Pritchard, one of Britain's leading climbers, suffered severe head injuries when a rock smashed into his head while climbing the Totem Pole in Tasmania, while Andew lost both hands and feet to frostbite after being trapped by a severe storm while climbing in the Alps. His climbing partner died.

Both climbers have fought back from their accidents, got back into the hills and, in the process, highlighted charities working to help those with disabilities. It wasn't just a stroll up the normal route either. According to this article in the Straits Times, the team, which included two other climbers with disabilities, tackled the mountain by the more difficult Western Breach Wall route, which includes sections of rock scrambling. The ascent is believed to be the first of its kind by an all-disabled team.

Originally they had, apparently, intended to follow the Credner Glacier route, but poor conditions high on the mountain made it impossible to locate. Pritchard also suffered from altitude sickness at one point, leading the group to abandon their first summit attempt and descend 3,000 feet until he recovered.

According to the Straits Times article, 'The project, the Voltaren Kilimanjaro Challenge, was chiefly sponsored by drug giant Norvatis (OTC) Asia Pacific and Reuters Foundation, a humanitarian and educational trust.'

More details in this article in The Scotsman newspaper. More about Paul Pritchard from his web site. Incidentally, Jamie Andrew's book, 'Life and Limb' is due to be published in March this year.