A climber who had his lower legs amputated after climbing Aoraki Mt Cook has finally fulfilled his dream to reach the mountain's summit.
In 1982 Phil Doole was stuck on the mountain for nearly two weeks with fellow climber Mark Inglis after they became trapped in a crevasse.
Because of severely frost-bitten feet, both men had their legs amputated. Doole's legs were amputated six inches below the knee.
Since becoming a double amputee, Doole has attempted four times to climb the mountain. On Tuesday afternoon Doole finally reached the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook with two other guides - including well-known mountaineer Gottlieb Braun-Elwert. Inglis reached the summit two years ago.
"We were slowed down by icy conditions... but we didn't really have long on top because we needed to start heading down again," says Doole.
Tuesday's achievement was more than a year in the planning and Doole says his next goal is to try surfing.
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