A Man Survived a Severe Stroke and Became a Polar Explorer: He Will Soon Set a Unique Record (4 photos)

Johnny Huntington has now completed almost half of the planned 900-kilometer route to the South Pole. Despite his disability and a five-day delay in the schedule, the man said that he will reach the planned point.





Briton Johnny Huntington survived a severe stroke, and after recovery decided to make his dream come true. He plans to go to the South Pole on his own on skis, becoming the first man with a disability to do so.

Journalists write that in 2014, a 28-year-old Royal Air Force soldier was working out in the gym when he suffered a stroke - he suddenly lost consciousness and fell. He was taken to hospital, but the consequences of the stroke were extensive - the man suffered significant paralysis of the left side.



At some point, Mr. Huntington admits, he lost all motivation to live, because he was physically and mentally broken. However, the man decided to return to a full life at any cost - he spent hours undergoing difficult rehabilitation, participated in a number of competitions for former military personnel and wanted to get back on his feet.

Despite the severe consequences of the stroke, he managed to do everything possible to regain partial mobility. After that, the man set one goal - to overcome obstacles, and so he began with various tests for himself.

The idea of ​​​​getting to the South Pole on his own captured him. So he began to seriously prepare for the trip - hundreds of kilometers on foot, training with sled pulling, and the final preparation was a 20-day expedition through the snowy north of Sweden. After completing the preparation, the man set off to conquer the South Pole.





According to the plan, Mr. Huntington must walk more than 900 km through the snowy deserts of Antarctica in 40 days without outside support. The man told reporters that he is currently on a hike, reporting on his progress via satellite.

"I feel pretty good, but I feel a little unhappy. Because I do all this myself, so I can't be too happy. But the main thing is that I continue to walk, because five years ago I could not dream of this," the former military man admits.

Mr. Huntington himself says that during the journey, a picture of a completely white desert opened up before him, where there was no one around for hundreds of kilometers. And therefore, in such moments, concentration is important, because one mistake will lead to fatal consequences.

"If I make even one mistake, then the expedition will immediately end. Because of my disability, my left leg does not really allow me to fully do everything as needed. However, I knew that this would happen, so I desperately believe that I have enough strength to reach the end," the man says.



Now he says that due to changing weather conditions, he is five days behind schedule. Despite this, the man says he is still on schedule, has no plans to change his plans and jokes that at Christmas he dreams of chocolate marzipan and talking to his family in Devon, where they now live. According to the hero of the story, it is the support of his family, friends and his team who look after him that is key to his morale.

"I have been incredibly lucky throughout the journey: the one thing I have not had to worry about is the psychological burden of being alone on the ice," admits Mr Huntington.

The man says he constantly receives messages of support when he connects to the internet via satellite. People send him music tracks to cheer him up, and relatives and loved ones are in constant contact with the former soldier.

After reaching the South Pole, he will return to his base at Union Glacier, then to Chile, and then eventually home to Devon and his mother, sister and 18-month-old niece for a belated Christmas. He says he will enjoy a pint of his favourite ale from his local brewery when he returns, and will continue the long process of recovery, and is looking forward to having Mrs Huntington in his life as well as the record.