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Sheer TV delight for high rise Ian
A SHEFFIELD mountaineer has kept the nation enthralled with a bird's-eye view of one of the most ambitious climbs ever.
Paraplegic Major Phil Packer spent 80 hours hauling himself up the 1,800ft sheer rock face El Capitan in America's Yosemite National Park.
He was filmed, photographed and supported on every move by Sheffielder Ian Parnell.
The mountain climb is the third colossal challenge Major Packer has undertaken in his bid to raise 1m for charity Help for Heroes and increase awareness of disability sports.
He set himself the tasks from his hospital bed after being injured in Basra, Iraq, in February 2008.
The ascent of El Capitan on the Zodiac route began on Monday June 8 and was the equivalent of 4,254 pull ups for Packer.
The team spent nights hanging on a portaledge attached to the rock wall and slept for an average of four hours a night during the four day expedition.
Major Packer said: "Climbing El Capitan was by far the hardest challenge for me so far, both mentally and physically. I was exhausted but delighted to have reached the top.
"With all of the challenges I've undertaken, but in particular the mountain climb, I hope that what the team and I have done by climbing El Cap will enthuse young people with disabilities to become involved in sports, an area I'm very keen to be a part of."
Major Packer, of the Royal Military Police, was expected never to walk again after suffering a spinal injury during a rocket attack.
The climb was just his latest challenge after he walked the London Marathon in two weeks on crutches and rowed across the English Channel.
Ian was part of the climbing team but also had the job of cameraman for ITV and taking photos for newspapers across the country. One huge part of the challenge was having to swing across the sheer rockfaces to get the best possible angle for each shot.
Ian is one of leading alpinists, mountain photographer and film-maker but also give inspirational talks to schools and businesses in South Yorkshire.
Visit www.speakersfromtheedge.com to find out more.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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