Double amputee, 8, who scooped Pride of Britain honour conquers 800ft summit

08 August 2023 , 20:42

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Tony Hudgell at the summit (Image: @BBCBreakfast)

On his two prosthetic legs and at just eight years old, Tony Hudgell conquered a Lake District summit in his latest epic charity challenge.

And our incredible Pride of Britain winner was greeted at the top of 780ft Orrest Head by mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonington, 89, and Hari Budha Magar, a double amputee who recently scaled Everest. Nepalese Hari, 44, who lost his limbs in a blast in Afghanistan in 2010, told Tony: “You were so fast I couldn’t catch you up. You were amazing.”

In 2020, Tony raised £1.7million by walking 10km on his prosthetic legs, and won our Pride of Britain Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser Award. His latest challenge had raised more than £20,000 by yesterday afternoon. It is Tony’s first fundraiser since his 2020 walk in aid of London’s Evelina Hospital, where doctors saved his life after he suffered appalling abuse at the hands of his biological parents.

Tony celebrates with Sir Chris Bonington (top) and Hari Budha Magar (in the black cap) (@BBCBreakfast)

Adoptive mum Paula Hudgell gave Tony a home with her husband Mark and eight older children, and Tony has thrived. After he got to the top of the fell, Paula, 56, of West Malling, Kent, said: “We are so incredibly proud, not just of his determination and resilience, but also his desire to help others. Nothing deters him, he attempts everything, he’s just an incredible little boy. I reckon we could climb probably the highest mountain now. It might have started something.”

Cumbrian guide Steve Watts said they picked Orrest Head because it was the first fell climbed by guidebook author Alfred Wainwright when he began walking in the Lakes in 1930. Mr Watts said: “Talk about endeavour, willpower. For an eight-year-old? Follow that. How many more is he going to inspire?”

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