London, UK – Former Gurkha Hari Budha Magar has made history by becoming the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak outside Asia. The veteran reached the 6,960m (22,837ft) summit in Argentina as part of his ambitious challenge to climb the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each continent—within 12 months.

Hari, who lost both legs in Afghanistan, described the climb as both physically and mentally exhausting. “Every mountain brings its own challenges, but for me, these are amplified with my disability,” he said. Climbing three times slower than able-bodied mountaineers, he had to set up an extra Camp 4 due to the harsh conditions and exhaustion. However, his careful strategy helped him overcome Aconcagua’s notoriously strong winds.

In 2023, Hari became the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest. Now, with five of the Seven Summits completed, he aims to conquer Puncak Jaya in Oceania and Mount Vinson in Antarctica to finish his record-breaking journey. If successful, he will be the first double above-knee amputee to achieve this feat, which only 500 people in history have completed.

Beyond personal achievement, Hari hopes to inspire change in perceptions of disability. “Climbing Everest was just the beginning. You need to keep proving what’s possible to drive real change,” he said.

Hari’s challenge also supports veterans’ charities, including Blesma and The Gurkha Welfare Trust. His climb was aided by advancements in prosthetic technology and a dedicated team, including endurance athlete Sally Orange and expedition leader Rami Rasamny.

As he nears his final summits, Hari continues to redefine what’s possible in mountaineering, proving that determination knows no limits.