KATHMANDU: Former British Gurkha and double above-knee amputee Hari Budha Magar has made mountaineering history by successfully summiting Mount Vinson in Antarctica, completing his long-cherished Seven Summits challenge.

According to a post shared by Magar on Facebook, he reached the summit of Mount Vinson (4,892 metres) at 10:00 pm on January 6, 2026, after a gruelling three-day climb in extreme Antarctic conditions. The expedition marked the final chapter of his Conquering Dreams – 7 Summits mission.

Magar and his team—Abiral Rai, Mingma Sherpa, and expedition leader Jangbu Sherpa of Alpine Ascents—faced temperatures plunging to minus 25 degrees Celsius, fierce Antarctic winds, steep slopes and icy terrain that tested both physical endurance and prosthetic technology to their limits.

After departing his home in the United Kingdom on Christmas Eve, Magar travelled to one of the world’s most remote regions following years of preparation. The expedition was supported by DIGI2AL, which has enabled his final Seven Summits climb.

Following the successful ascent, Magar said the achievement was about far more than reaching the top.
“If you have a dream and dedicate yourself and never give up, you can achieve anything—whatever life throws at you,” he wrote, thanking his team, family, supporters, partners and charities.

“We have shown that nothing is impossible. This is about raising awareness of disability and inspiring others to climb their own mountains and conquer their dreams,” he added.

With the Vinson ascent, Magar becomes the first double above-knee amputee in the world to complete the Seven Summits, one of mountaineering’s most prestigious feats, achieved by fewer than 500 climbers globally.

Born in Rolpa and injured by an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2010, Magar has dedicated his post-military life to challenging perceptions of disability. Since becoming the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest in 2023, he has used high-altitude expeditions to advocate for inclusion, resilience and adaptive innovation in mountaineering.

“Changing perceptions of disability will not happen overnight,” Magar said. “But with support, adaptation and perseverance, people with disabilities can accomplish the impossible.”

His journey, from the Himalayas to Antarctica, now stands as one of the most inspiring stories in modern adventure and inclusive mountaineering.