After trying twice to reach the top of Mount Everest, an Afghanistan war veteran and Idaho native became the first combat-amputee veteran to summit the world’s highest mountain Thursday.
(FOX)- Charlie Linville, 30, twice tried to climb Mount Everest but never made it due to devastating natural disasters on and near the world’s highest mountain.
Linville — whose climbs have been sponsored by The Heroes Project, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans — finally reached the summit Thursday, according to the organization. Linville lost his lower leg in combat while serving in Afghanistan.
“The team is healthy and safe and currently descending the mountain,” the Heroes Project said in a statement.
The team that included Linville arrived at Everest Basecamp on April 17, and encountered delays from a snowstorm before arriving at Advanced Basecamp (ABC) on May 2, according to the group.
Once at the Advanced Basecamp, the group focused on acclimation training to get their bodies adjusted to the conditions at 21,300 feet before starting their climb earlier this week. Eventually, the climbing group began their summit push in the late evening on Wednesday.