Jonny's on track in his Antarctic expedition

AIMS FOR A DISABLED FIRST IN SOLO SOUTH POLE BID

A STROKE survivor aiming to become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole has finished his first week on the ice, covering 120km of his landmark Antarctic expedition.

Jonny Huntington suffered a stroke in 2014 at the age of 28 which saw him paralysed completely on his left side. After years of intense rehabilitation, Jonny lives with permanent brain damage resulting in a significant lack of strength, mobility and control down his left side.

The 38-year-old from Kingsbridge nonetheless aims to ski more 911km - 566 miles - across the Antarctic tundra, which he expects to take 40 days. Aware that this is a "marathon not a sprint", Jonny is easing his way into the expedition, skiing for around eight and a half hours and covering between 18 and 23 km of distance per day on his way to the pole.

About his start, Jonny said: "So I've been on the ice for a whole week now. It still feels weird to be in Antarctica.

We're getting on pretty well and so far, I'm hitting distances."

Surprisingly, it's not been the frozen polar temperatures he's been most worried about, but the heat and strength of the sun that has been a challenge.