Battle Lines From Afghanistan to Everest: the double-amputee Gurkha veteran who made history
Dec 22, 2025
Hari Budha Magar, a Gurkha veteran and the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest, shares his incredible journey from a village in Nepal to the battlefield in Afghanistan. He recounts the harrowing moment an IED changed his life forever and how he rebuilt it through resilience and support from charities. Hari emphasizes the importance of mindset and community in overcoming challenges, revealing his struggles with identity and PTSD. His adventurous spirit and advocacy inspire anyone facing adversity to strive for greatness.
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The Patrol That Changed Everything
- Hari Budha Magar recounts stepping on an IED on 17 April 2010 in Helmand while on a familiarisation patrol.
- He remembers waking on a helicopter and later in hospital, describing how that single moment changed his life and identity.
Saved By A Medic In Theatre
- Hari describes being the first casualty from his regiment and how his medic Alex Duncan saved his life.
- He explains that several teammates were later killed or injured, wiping out much of his command group.
How The Not Forgotten Found Him
- Hari first learned of The Not Forgotten at a rehabilitation centre where he was told about a Buckingham Palace event.
- The charity later supported him with skiing and confidence-building activities and remains part of his life.