Solo pole mission begins for para athlete Jonny

BID TO BE FIRST DISABLED PERSON TO REACH SOUTH POLE WITHOUT SUPPORT

- LYNN RUSK

A FORMER GB para-athlete is aiming to become the first disabled person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole.

Jonny Huntington, 38, from Kingsbridge, suffered a stroke while serving as an officer in the British Army.

The bleed in his brain left Mr Huntington completely paralysed from the neck down on his left side.

After 10 years of rehabilitation and training he is set to ski 911km (566 miles) of Antarctic tundra - an expedition he expects to take 40 days.

He will be dragging all his equipment and food in a sled which will weigh in excess of 110kg (242lbs).

Mr Huntington, who was to embark on his journey from the UK yesterday, told the PA news agency: "No one with a disability has done this before so I find it quite exciting.

"I'll be doing it completely on my own with no sort of help, no resupply, nothing like that.