A British adventurer left paralyzed in a horrific climbing accident will try to break a world record by skiing to the South Pole.
Darren Edwards, 35, is aiming to sit-ski 137 miles (222km) across Antarctica next month.
The former mountaineer and army reservist hopes to smash the previous South Pole sit-ski record of 69 miles (111km).
The dad-of-one will ski for up to ten hours a day in sub-zero temperatures using two specially modified poles.
Edwards was paralyzed from the chest down following a rock climbing fall in North Wales on August 6, 2016.
A section of rock crumbled under Edwards’ feet, and he plummeted 100ft, breaking his spine.
Since suffering his horrific injury, Edwards has defied the odds to complete a series of gruelling physical challenges.
Edwards, from Shrewsbury, Shrops, said: “I have had dark times since my accident, but I’ve tried to take adversity and turn it into something positive.
“For me, adventure became that kind of saving grace, and I just kept testing myself and proving that I can achieve things with my injury.”
Edwards’ determination has also seen him selected for Great Britain’s Paracanoe Team.
He also pioneered adaptive freediving in the UK.
In 2021, he became the first disabled person to kayak 870 miles (1,400km) from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland.
Edwards will be supported in his world record bid by a team of adventurers made up of explorer Lucy Shepherd, Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, and award-winning filmmaker Matthew Biggar.
He is aiming to raise $131,653.50 (£100,000) for spinal cord injury charity Wings for Life.
