KATHMANDU: Swedish adventurer Aron Anderson, who has used a wheelchair since losing the ability to walk at the age of nine following cancer surgery, has reached the summit of Lobuche East (6,119m) in Nepal's Khumbu region, adding another extraordinary chapter to one of the most remarkable records in adaptive adventure sport.

Anderson, now 38, successfully summited on April 8 in an expedition organised by Adventure Ascent, Pasang Sherpa, Managing Director of Adventure Ascent. The team was led by Swedish adventure guide Oskar Normelli and Pasang Sherpa with Sarki Sherpa and Chiring Sherpa providing direct support to Anderson on the mountain. 

Fourteen other Swedish clients were also part of the expedition, Oskar said. "The Sherpa who supported Aron were Sarki Sherpa and Chiring Sherpa. Pasang and I were the expedition leaders."

Anderson was diagnosed with cancer in his pelvis in January 1996 at the age of nine. After a year of chemotherapy and radiation failed to halt the disease, surgery removed the cancer but left him without full use of his legs. Rather than retreat from physical challenge, he went on to compete at elite level in three Paralympic sports — sailing, athletics and sledge hockey — across four Paralympic Games.

His record of firsts is extensive. He became the first wheelchair user to summit Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest peak, in August 2013, and the first to climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

He has reached the South Pole, completed Sweden's classic endurance quadruple — Vasaloppet, Vätternrundan, Vansbrosimmet and Lidingöloppet — within 24 hours as the first wheelchair user to do so, and in 2021 set a Swedish record by completing 145 skydives in 24 hours. He is also an ambassador for the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The Lobuche East summit is his highest point yet and one of the most technically demanding achievements of his career, coming at an elevation that tests even able-bodied climbers. Anderson regularly speaks internationally on motivation, goal-setting and turning adversity into achievement.