Mark Inglis is an inspiration to everyone in modern day society and he has shown us that anything is possible. Mark was the first ever-double amputee to climb Mount Everest. Mark is a high achiever with many notable achievements across many job occupations.

Mark was born on the 27th of September 1959, in South Canterbury. Growing up Mark went to Geraldine high school. Mark was only a teenager when he discovered his passion for climbing; he joined the local search and rescue team as a mountaineer to pursue his dream.

It was the November of 1982 when Mark was climbing Aoraki Mount Cook with fellow mountaineer Phil Doole, where Mark had his terrible accident and lost half of both of his legs. Mark and Phil were both trapped in an ice cave for 13 days following a massive storm. Both Mark and Phil sustained terrible frostbite and had to have large parts of their legs amputated. After this event Mark managed to complete his science degree, and followed a career in winemaking. He later even competed in the Sydney Paralympic games winning a silver medal for the 1km cycling time trial.

On the 15th of May 2006, 20 years after losing part of his legs Mark Inglis became the first ever double amputee to reach the summit of the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. It took the team a long time and they were many troubles and difficulties along the way but Mark strived through them, so he could make history and leave behind a legacy. Mark has also climbed Mount Cook Aoraki (the original mountain that cost Mark his legs) and Cho Oyo.

Mark Inglis is a hugely inspiring man, someone who has battled against adversity and disability to forge ahead and push himself to the absolute extreme. He has proved to the world that despite the hardest of trials you can still overcome your difficulties and succeed. He is an inspiration to everyone, everywhere and shows us that anything can be done with enough will power, grit and determination.