Veteran, 39, who lost both his legs fighting in Iraq becomes first above-the-knee double amputee to summit the Matterhorn

  • Neil Heritage had both his legs blown off in by a suicide car bomber in 2004 
  • He reached the summit of the Matterhorn on Friday in what was his third attempt
  • The former soldier has raised more than £6,000 for the Climb 2 Recovery charity

A veteran who lost both his legs while fighting in Iraq has become the first above-the-knee double amputee to summit the Matterhorn.

Neil Heritage, 39, along with friend Mark Hooks, 46, both from Poole, Dorset, successfully scaled the 14,692ft Alpine mountain on Friday.

Despite Mr Heritage's prosthetic leg falling off about 100 metres from the summit, he completed the climb alongside three guides on the Swiss side of the mountain.

The former soldier is no stranger to gruelling challenges, having rowed across the Atlantic in 2012.

The former soldier (second left) who lost both of his legs in Iraq, has become the first above-the-knee double amputee to summit the Matterhorn

The former soldier (second left) who lost both of his legs in Iraq, has become the first above-the-knee double amputee to summit the Matterhorn

He has twice attempted to summit the Matterhorn but was unsuccessful because of poor weather conditions.

'The previous two times was why it was so emotional,' said. 'Three years of hard work.'

Mr Heritage, who previously worked in bomb disposal, now runs a charity helping injured veterans with their rehabilitation. 

The veteran was finishing his shift near Camp Dogwood in Iraq in November 2004 when he was blown up by a suicide car bomber.

Because he lost his legs before April 1, 2005 – the date set in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme – Mr Heritage received no compensation for his injuries. 

Mr Heritage (centre) successfully scaled the mountain on his third attempt after unsuccessfully trying twice previously

Mr Heritage (centre) successfully scaled the mountain on his third attempt after unsuccessfully trying twice previously 

He has so far raised more than £6,000 for Climb 2 Recovery by reaching the summit. 

Mr Hooks, a residential fitness bootcamp director, said the experience was 'unbelievable'.

'When we got to the top it was just so special, managing to achieve something we've worked so hard on over the years... it was very emotional,' he said. 

He explained though that conditions were challenging.

The Matterhorn has one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe, at 14,692ft

The Matterhorn has one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe, at 14,692ft

'There was a bit of a traffic jam at the top of the Matterhorn at the time, there were people clambering over.

'One of the guides came across as Neil was sat on the side of the mountain - that was a good 20-to-30 minute ordeal.

'We got it [the prosthetic] back on and made the summit. It was tough getting down after all the effort and elation of getting to the top, then the hard work starts.'

To donate to Climb 2 Recovery, visit the link here.

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