Compilation Harry's Arctic Heroes


Compilation

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The Arctic, one of the harshest environments on the planet.

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Warm the hands up before they get excruciatingly cold.

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Temperatures can sink to minus 50 degrees centigrade,

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the wind can reach 110 miles an hour,

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and all that's between you and 2.5 miles of ink-black Arctic Ocean

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are a few thin inches of ice.

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If your pole goes in and you're not in your harness, you go to the bottom of the sea.

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Careful!

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Into this extreme, four wounded British soldiers...

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Oh, right on the ribs!

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It is quite hard, we're not making a lot of ground.

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..two expedition founders...

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It's the end of day... Oh, holy cow.

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..one polar guide...

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We have to be more careful because the pole can run over and break your leg.

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-..and one prince...

-No matter who you are, unless you really hate the cold,

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this place is amazing.

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Together they'll attempt the first unsupported trek to the North Pole

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by wounded servicemen.

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If successful, they'll set a new world record.

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This is the story of their journey,

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from the battlefields of Afghanistan

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to top of the world.

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..if my military commitments allow me, I would love to join the team.

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It's spring 2010 and the Walking With The Wounded team

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are holding their first press conference with their royal patron.

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'Obviously, once I was asked,'

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it was a very easy opportunity to say I would love to join this.

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It's an opportunity I just couldn't let go.

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I don't think anybody else would.

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'It's going to be serious for them and nobody should underestimate

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'what these guys are putting themselves through

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'not just for themselves but for everybody else who's been injured.'

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This project exemplifies the tenacity and courage of those who serve our country.

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It really is that simple.

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It's great to be part of this amazing adventure

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and with such a great bunch of guys.

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Three months later and charity founders Ed Parker and Simon Daglish

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have brought two soldiers to a UK training session in Norfolk.

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This is the early days of it all.

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We'll start off with this and no doubt build up as the year goes on.

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The plan is to take four wounded soldiers to the Pole,

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but with less than ten months until they depart, and seeing over 100 applicants,

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the expedition organisers only have two suitable candidates.

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Come on, Granddad, let's go for a walk.

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29-year-old, Captain Martin Hewitt was serving with the Parachute Regiment

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when he was severely wounded in Afghanistan.

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I wanted to join the Forces and I specifically wanted to join the Parachute Regiment.

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That was the proudest day of my life when I found out I got in there.

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After joining the Army Cadets at 16, Martin went on to serve with the Paras in Afghanistan twice.

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It was on his second tour in 2007 that things went tragically wrong.

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We had a very good talk before we deployed,

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saying, "Listen, lads, about a third of you won't come back."

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It was a risk that I accepted.

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Martin was leading a platoon of paratroopers during Operation Herrick

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when he took a direct hit to his right shoulder.

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At first I thought I'd lost the limb

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and I first looked around to try and pick it up

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but realised it was still attached. It was paralysed.

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I knew very quickly it was serious, and I had arterial bleeding.

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You could see it coming out, it was very bright red...

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blood pulsating out of you in line with your heart beat.

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I got my hand in there and tried to clamp the artery shut,

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which I was having difficulty doing

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and I could feel the life draining out of me.

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I felt myself going. You do, feel yourself fading.

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I was thinking to myself, "There's no way I'm dying on this desert floor here, not a chance."

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The bullet ripped through Martin's shoulder leaving a four-inch exit wound.

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It shredded the brachial artery, the main blood supply to the arm,

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and severed all the nerves,

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leaving the limb paralysed.

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Learning to adapt to life with the use of one arm, you can do.

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The most difficult battle I've had is the psychological impact

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of not being able to do the job I wanted to do and that I loved.

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I will not command soldiers on operations again.

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I tried this one instead of this,

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but this one is very wobbly, so I'm not going to do it.

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I'll use this one instead.

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28-year-old, Captain Guy Disney, who serves with the Light Dragoons,

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lost his right leg in Afghanistan in 2009.

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-What was wrong with that?

-It's too wobbly.

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-Really?

-Yeah.

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I think looking at footage of Afghanistan on the news, you felt

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almost a duty to go and do your bit.

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On 6th May 2009, the armoured reconnaissance vehicle that Guy was commanding

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was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

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Effectively a jet of molten metal came through the side of the vehicle

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and that went through my leg and tragically killed the soldier next to me.

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I looked down and it was hanging off, and...

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It's almost like when you hold a boot by its laces and swing it,

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there were a couple of bits of tendon left.

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The bone had all gone and initially it was like, "Christ, that's definitely coming off."

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The initial feelings were, you know, "Bugger," if that makes sense.

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The RPG, destroyed Guy's leg just below the knee.

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Within hours, the doctors in Afghanistan were forced to amputate,

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leaving a raw stump that's needed four separate operations to repair.

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I couldn't really believe it had happened.

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I still felt I was meant to be out there doing the job

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and suddenly you're having everything done for yourself, that's a frustrating period.

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Trekking to the North Pole in ten months' time

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will be Guy and Martin's biggest challenge since being wounded.

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Guy and I are still in a state of rehabilitation ourselves.

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I've had 13 operations to date, myself.

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I'm nothing like as fit at the minute as I was when I got shot.

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I've got a long way to go get that level back, but it's coming.

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Ed and Simon may have their first wounded servicemen,

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but time's running out to find two more.

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While they continue their search,

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Guy's off to in New York with team patron, Prince Harry.

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With the Afghanistan War in its tenth year,

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they're here to help strengthen military relations,

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but also to promote the expedition.

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Ladies and gentleman, Prince Harry.

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APPLAUSE

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Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

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I would just like to steal a few moments of your time

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to talk about an important and very serious matter.

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It's the welfare of our men and women in uniform,

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those who we send out to fight our wars and protect our freedom.

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You know, myself and my brother and, I suppose, a huge majority of the British public as well

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support these guys in everything they do and always will do, hopefully.

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For... I probably speak for William, as well, but mainly for myself,

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after doing a very small stint in Afghanistan,

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I'd like to think that I've got a rough idea

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about what goes on and how they feel.

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# Can you see by the dawn's early light? #

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Prince Harry and Guy are also taking part in a charity run in Central Park.

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HARRY: After seeing the way these guys dealt with it,

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if I did go back, I wouldn't have as much fear of getting hit as I did the first time.

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I'm not saying I've accepted that if I go out and get shot then that'll be fine.

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I'm just saying, to see the way these guys have dealt with it

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and the way that every other soldier deals with it back at Selly Oak and Headley Court,

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it gives you that feeling of going, "If I do go back and do get hit, I hope I end up like these guys."

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# O'er the land of the free

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# And the home of the brave. #

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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No-one wants to get injured, but the guys have accepted that your life's not over,

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it's not come to an end, there's other things you can do. Walk to the North Pole, for instance.

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The inspiration these guys give to everybody else is unbelievable.

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Back in the UK, with only seven months to go,

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Ed, Simon, Guy and Martin have come to Bodmin Moor for a training session.

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Crucially, they've brought along two more would-be team members.

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The youngest is 26-year-old South African, Jaco Van Gass.

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He was hit by an RPG during a firefight in Afghanistan on his second tour with the Paras.

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'I came over to the UK in 2006, to join the British Army.

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'I literally just landed'

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the Saturday morning and in the Monday morning

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I was in the recruiting office signing the paperwork.

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For me, serving in Afghanistan was absolutely brilliant.

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It's a brotherhood that you pick up,

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and even the day you leave the Army, you'll always be part of that family.

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In the early hours of August 20th, 2009, Jaco's unit was heading out on an operation.

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The chopper's came in, we landed on the target.

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I just heard a massive noise.

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By the time I woke up, I didn't really know what happened.

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As I sat up and tried to raise my weapon, that's when I realised that I've lost my arm.

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I just sat, flat on the ground and fired a couple of rounds off from my hip.

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The amount of blood I lost was ridiculous.

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The pain was unbelievable.

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There was a point where I think, "Yes, I'm going to die."

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That was the point that I lost consciousness and then that was it.

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The next time I woke up I was in Selly Oak.

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The blast severed Jaco's arm above the elbow,

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a third of the muscle on his left leg was blown away.

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He suffered extensive damage to his internal organs

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and has had 15 operations over the past 12 months.

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Going out with my mates again, to the pub, or to a club,

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all the girls are interested in them, and then you turn around and you've got no arm, and...

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they don't really know what to say.

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It was really hard.

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There are certain days, I look back and I'm thinking, "Bloody hell, I was in good shape there."

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There is something in you that says, "I really wish I could get back to looking like that."

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You need to sit down with yourself and realise that you're not a fully able body any more.

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You've got certain injuries and certain stuff that happened to you.

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The reason why we're doing this, is for other servicemen and women,

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to show them that something like this is possible.

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Right, next point.

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What, that little scarp there?

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Yeah, you're going to hit that knoll on the left-hand side there,

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so come up the left-hand side of the scarp.

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Good to stretch the legs, really.

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Haven't tabbed for a while, so it's good to get out and stretch the legs.

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I think that's about the first two miles done, another ten to go, so... We shall see.

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Sergeant Stephen Young, a 28-year-old Welsh Guardsman, was injured in Afghanistan in 2009.

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I was that typical kid running around with a toy gun,

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and it has always been my ambition to join the Army.

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His fiancee, Emma, has been his bedrock ever since.

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It means absolutely everything to him.

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I'd love him to have a 9-5 job and come home to me, but it's not going to happen.

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On 1st August, as Steve was redeploying back to the front line,

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his vehicle was blown up by an IED.

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It's not just like hearing a noise - bang.

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It travels through your whole body.

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I remember being thrown forwards, like face down on the floor.

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So I tried getting up, and that's when I felt

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a massive, massive intense pain just in my back.

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And when I pulled myself up, my legs swung, er,

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because I couldn't use them properly, and my back crunched.

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I really thought, yep, that's me, I'm dead.

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The blast broke Steve's back, causing a complicated burst fracture of the vertebrae

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and extensive soft tissue damage.

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He was told he would never walk again.

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It was 1,001 things going through my mind, a lot of them were selfish -

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me walking, me running, me, me, me, me.

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Didn't at that stage really think of the family,

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which I knew later on it would have had a massive impact on.

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The initial finding out was absolutely horrendous,

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and I don't think it really hit me until I was driving home

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after telling everybody, and I was on the motorway

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and I had to pull over because it all hit me at once.

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I was flown home then within a day, and when I got back to Selly Oak,

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they said, "Look, you will walk again, but with a frame for life."

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Unless someone's actually got this sort of injury,

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you don't understand, you don't realise how much it affects you on a daily basis.

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It's just a constant ache.

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-But you learn to deal with it.

-You just adapt, don't you?

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Yeah, yeah, that's it, yeah.

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After 15 miles slogging across Bodmin Moor,

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both Steve and Jaco have impressed the organisers.

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It's really great having Jaco and Steve with us.

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Jaco is... To see him here now

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is I think the essence of everything we're trying to show people.

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So yeah, I think we could have our team.

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There are ongoing concerns for all the wounded soldiers, but with the team complete,

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at least they can begin preparing for everything the North Pole will throw at them.

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I'm getting excited now.

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I haven't had that feeling for three years now, since I been shot.

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This is the first time I've got that kind of excitement that I used to get

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every week in work, so it's good, getting back in the game.

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Albeit doing something completely different.

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But yeah, it's all good, mate.

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As of July 2011,

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1,712 service personnel have been injured in Afghanistan.

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Four months later, and the team are doing

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a photo shoot for GQ magazine, to raise the profile of the expedition.

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The shoot's with one of Britain's best-known photographers, David Bailey.

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Bailey, a keen supporter of the Armed Forces,

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is donating his services for free.

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Who did the artwork at the back, the Apaches?

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I nicked that, someone had painted it on the wall, so I photographed it and nicked it.

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I'm not a very photogenic person, I don't take a good picture.

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It doesn't matter if it's on a mobile phone or David Bailey,

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I don't think I'll look that good on picture.

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It's not only a chance to have their portraits taken by one of the world's best-known photographers,

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it's also a chance to spend some time with their patron, Prince Harry.

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We're very fortunate and humble to have him on board -

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and it'll be good to meet him.

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He's trying to help us raise the profile of the charity

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and raise as much money for the charity as he possibly can.

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He's met some of them before,

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but this is the first time that the full team has come together.

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We can hopefully get to know him a bit, so when he comes up,

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he's not meeting a bunch of strangers.

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We all sort of know each other already.

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Very excited to meet him and to socialise a bit with him.

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I'm just happy to be here with them

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and give them as much support as I can, and have a laugh with them.

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Because I like to think I'm just one of the lads - whether I am or not!

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Shall we go, shall we start?

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-Yes, I've started.

-You've started?!

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He is obviously a prince, part of the royal family,

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but he is also a squaddie. So, we're all squaddies here,

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we've all got the same mentality, so hopefully we'll get along.

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It's basically do whatever you want, so yeah!

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It's important we do get to know each other a bit.

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It's going to be quite intense living conditions, 10-12 hours skiing together,

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and then living in the tents as well.

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I think it makes it easier for someone from my position,

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it's nice to be able to relate to them, and to be able to say that I've been there

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and they know that I've experienced similar things to them, up until the injury itself.

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It's nice to be able to sit down and have a bit of banter with them,

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and that they've lost an arm or lost a leg.

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It is very interesting having this time to talk to the guys.

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Despite knowing their backgrounds and their stories, there's so much more to it.

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And that is fascinating, it's actually quite sad in a way as well.

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With nine weeks until they depart

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and Prince Harry on an army helicopter course,

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the rest of the team come to Norway for their final winter training.

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The cold is tough enough for an able-bodied person,

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but for these wounded soldiers, it's another level of risk.

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The constant strain will push their delicate injuries to the limit.

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One of the most important skills is managing body temperature in the extreme environment.

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If you get too hot, you sweat, making your clothes wet.

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That freezes, ruining their thermal properties.

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Equally, if you're too cold, you can get hypothermia or frostbite.

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I'm just putting on some thermals,

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because I've got a slightly cold John Thomas at the moment, if I'm honest.

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The old chap's getting a bit chilly, and I daren't lose a bit.

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Steve's back is also starting to hurt.

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Just starting to feel it now, starting to ache now.

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So, just trying to stay on top of it,

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use the opportunity to have my stretch-off.

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Not on the painkillers yet, still early days.

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Going to try and get through today without any painkillers, see how I am tomorrow.

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The guys push on, skiing for the next eight hours.

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At the end of the day, they've learnt a lot, but at a cost.

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I got through till about half one this afternoon,

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and then I took some painkillers, But it was all right after that.

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The arm was getting very cold in the last two hours.

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Once it goes cold, it takes a little bit of a while to warm it up.

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For Steve and Jaco, it's been a worrying start,

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and there are still five more days to go.

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With good weather, the team move on well.

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But as at the pole, the weather can change dramatically and dangerously.

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I'd rather be anywhere but here!

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The wind's howling.

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It is very beautiful,

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but truth be known, it's quite hard.

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The team ski into a 35mph wind for the rest of the day...

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..only pitching camp as the weather finally calms, just before sunset.

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Jaco is concerned about his role on the expedition.

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It's only now that I realise how difficult it is

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to do stuff with one hand.

0:23:580:24:00

I'm just frustrated, basically.

0:24:000:24:02

I'm keen to help, I want to help,

0:24:020:24:05

I want to do...my part of the deal.

0:24:050:24:09

Sorry, it's just getting to me a bit.

0:24:100:24:13

While I'm pulling, all I can think about is

0:24:140:24:19

what can I do, you know, to make it worthwhile that I'm in the team,

0:24:190:24:25

to carry my weight, to show that I'm here for a reason.

0:24:250:24:29

I really do hope the other boys see it as well,

0:24:290:24:33

and they can see that I'm really putting in 110%.

0:24:330:24:37

The next morning, as they prepare to head off for another day, its Steve's turn t suffer,

0:24:390:24:46

when his fragile back starts to hurt.

0:24:460:24:49

Go on, keep doing it.

0:24:550:24:57

As Steve's tent buddy, it's Jaco's job to help

0:24:570:25:01

when his spine locks up and goes into spasm.

0:25:010:25:04

So that's my vertebra there...

0:25:060:25:08

If you can't find the gap between the vertebrae, put the palm of your hand on there and press down.

0:25:080:25:13

I've always had Steve as our top risk, because he's the one you can't see.

0:25:130:25:19

Is that better?

0:25:190:25:21

-Keep going...

-I think he's in a great deal of pain.

0:25:210:25:25

Up about an inch, yeah?

0:25:250:25:27

We know they're never going to say "Stop",

0:25:280:25:32

and so we have to do the saying of the stop.

0:25:320:25:36

And he'll start thinking that it's the end of it for him.

0:25:360:25:39

I'm sure it's not, but his back is far, far, far more important.

0:25:390:25:45

You can't do this hard enough, mate, the harder you do it, the better.

0:25:450:25:48

If there's doubt, then we will have to say no.

0:25:500:25:54

Steve takes time to rest his back and allow his painkillers to kick in.

0:25:580:26:02

Half an hour later, he emerges.

0:26:040:26:08

-All right, Steve.

-Boys.

0:26:080:26:10

Still a bit sore, mate.

0:26:100:26:13

I think I'm going to have to take it easy today.

0:26:130:26:16

Feel a bit jacked really, standing here watching the boys do all the work.

0:26:160:26:20

But I suppose that's just part of being of in a team.

0:26:200:26:23

The team set off again, with Jaco pulling Steve's pulk

0:26:270:26:30

for a couple of hours to give his back a rest.

0:26:300:26:33

'He took a couple of painkillers, he took a couple of hours off,

0:26:360:26:39

'skiing without pulling his pulk,

0:26:390:26:41

'and then he pulled the pulk for the rest of the day, on our longest day.'

0:26:410:26:45

'Steve's back is the one I just don't know about.'

0:26:460:26:50

Being injured, it shuts quite a lot of doors, but it opens up just as many.

0:26:530:26:57

And this door has opened up, and I'm really glad it did.

0:26:570:27:01

It brings back a feeling of being able to do something again.

0:27:010:27:05

Taking wounded soldiers on the first unsupported expedition

0:27:090:27:13

to the North Pole will be tough enough,

0:27:130:27:15

but the guys have shown what can be achieved

0:27:150:27:18

with determination and teamwork.

0:27:180:27:20

We step onto the ice two months today.

0:27:220:27:26

I've always thought we are going to do it - I wouldn't be

0:27:260:27:30

standing here if I thought it wasn't doable -

0:27:300:27:33

but I know it's going to be very, very hard.

0:27:330:27:36

But I've got much more confidence now that we are going to succeed.

0:27:360:27:40

If it was all about willpower, we would cruise this,

0:27:400:27:44

but it's a bit more than that, and that's the jeopardy in it, really.

0:27:440:27:48

I suppose that's the excitement, and that's why no-one's done it.

0:27:480:27:51

Initially when you come back injured, you think life's probably not that great.

0:27:510:27:56

For us, we're doing something we'd have probably never dreamed of doing

0:27:560:27:59

when we were lying in our beds in Camp Bastion after having bits chopped off us.

0:27:590:28:04

MUSIC: "Wild Boys" by Duran Duran

0:28:070:28:12

Back in the UK, and with just a few weeks left

0:28:170:28:19

until they depart for the ice, the team's adventure

0:28:190:28:23

has caught the imagination of both the public...

0:28:230:28:25

You keep them on, I'll get one with the jacket on...

0:28:250:28:28

And the world's press.

0:28:280:28:30

My phone hasn't stopped, all the lads saying, "Just saw you on the telly, heard you on the radio."

0:28:300:28:34

The boys are swept up in a media whirlwind of photo shoots...

0:28:340:28:39

Can everyone look this way, please?

0:28:410:28:43

..TV appearances...

0:28:430:28:45

Filled in the forms...

0:28:450:28:47

..visits to meet the Prime Minister at Number 10...

0:28:470:28:50

How are you...?

0:28:500:28:52

..and a celebrity fund-raising ball.

0:28:520:28:56

# They tried to break us

0:28:560:28:59

# Looks like they'll try again

0:28:590:29:03

# Wild boys

0:29:030:29:05

# Never close your eyes

0:29:050:29:08

# Wild boys always... #

0:29:080:29:12

APPLAUSE

0:29:120:29:17

Just over 12 months after launching themselves on the world,

0:29:200:29:23

the team arrive in Svalbard,

0:29:230:29:26

an island deep within the Arctic Circle.

0:29:260:29:29

In a few days, they're due to land on the polar ice cap for the very first time.

0:29:290:29:36

'My father knew I was coming out, and so did my brother,

0:29:360:29:39

'but I kind of kept it quiet.'

0:29:390:29:40

My grandparents and the rest of my family probably just found out

0:29:410:29:44

and probably think I'm completely mad - it's probably right.

0:29:440:29:47

But hopefully when I get back,

0:29:470:29:50

my father will be pleased.

0:29:500:29:52

Harry plans to be with the guys for five days -

0:29:540:29:58

two preparing and three on the ice.

0:29:580:30:00

They head off on a 20-mile training ski -

0:30:080:30:11

their first together as a full team.

0:30:110:30:14

HE LAUGHS Woo-hoo!

0:30:200:30:24

LAUGHTER

0:30:290:30:31

First day with the team - fantastic, great experience.

0:30:390:30:42

Probably a little bit harder than originally thought.

0:30:420:30:45

It's really interesting just to see the guys,

0:30:450:30:48

the amount of training they've been doing -

0:30:480:30:50

it's just so slick, and just runs off their feet.

0:30:500:30:52

The guy with one leg as well, it's fantastic to watch them.

0:30:520:30:57

They've been at the front of the pack the whole time, me and the old boys have been stuck at the back.

0:30:570:31:01

Climbing, that's where it really becomes difficult with having one arm.

0:31:060:31:10

You haven't got the weight or the balance of both arms to pull you up.

0:31:100:31:15

So for quite a steep bit, I had to go sideways,

0:31:150:31:19

which is really hard work on the legs.

0:31:190:31:21

'I'm only around for five days, which is nothing compared to those guys, doing four weeks.

0:31:250:31:30

'Generally, I have no idea what to expect. The unknown is slightly scary.'

0:31:320:31:36

'He's fitted in with the boys, really when he walked through the door.'

0:31:390:31:42

He is one of them, he's a soldier just like them. It's been great,

0:31:420:31:46

it's given the team a bit of a lift. We spend all our time with one another and we get on very well,

0:31:460:31:51

but to bring someone else into the team has been great.

0:31:510:31:55

LAUGHTER

0:31:560:32:00

'With any bunch of guys, it would probably be a pretty exhausting trip,

0:32:010:32:05

'but with these guys, it's once-in-a-lifetime.

0:32:050:32:07

'For me, I couldn't say no.'

0:32:070:32:09

LAUGHTER

0:32:110:32:16

There's been a party mood all day,

0:32:180:32:20

a good sign for the team's departure, the day after tomorrow.

0:32:200:32:25

Back in their hotel, Martin's still full of beans.

0:32:330:32:36

Stop it!

0:32:370:32:39

DANCE MUSIC PLAYS

0:32:390:32:41

Doin' a dance for you, Maximus.

0:32:410:32:44

Hey, do one, this is private!

0:32:440:32:47

LAUGHTER

0:32:470:32:48

But Harry's feeling less energetic after seven hours on skis.

0:32:480:32:53

The first bit of it was actually quite fun.

0:32:530:32:56

Yeah, it started all right.

0:32:560:33:00

Afterwards, the second bit of it was, erm,

0:33:000:33:03

was a bit of a nightmare, actually.

0:33:030:33:06

Hard work. Those boys - they're doing seriously well.

0:33:060:33:10

My whole body's a bit sore, to be honest.

0:33:100:33:14

Thank God the North Pole's flat.

0:33:140:33:16

Jaco struggled in the cold.

0:33:160:33:19

I just stood about 20 minutes in the shower to try and warm it up and get some feeling back into it.

0:33:190:33:24

It got really, really painful.

0:33:240:33:27

But it's Steve who has suffered the most.

0:33:270:33:30

Right, I'll lift a little bit, try to relax.

0:33:300:33:34

He's called in a physiotherapist to try to sort him out.

0:33:340:33:38

'The last about half hour before we got back, it was quite steep and I went over on the skis.'

0:33:380:33:44

I landed quite heavily on my back, and it was really painful.

0:33:440:33:47

-That's a nice stretch, I like that.

-Yes?

-Yep.

0:33:470:33:51

That feels good.

0:33:510:33:53

New man, thank you very much, mate.

0:33:560:33:58

Cheers. I'm going to definitely have to take it easy now.

0:33:580:34:01

Fingers crossed it will be OK for Friday.

0:34:010:34:04

The next morning, the guys are in their room sorting kit.

0:34:070:34:10

Tomorrow, they're due to depart for the ice.

0:34:130:34:17

-OK, cool.

-Have you seen Dags about?

-Er, yes, I thought they went out to go and get bungee.

-OK, brilliant.

0:34:170:34:24

Harry's playing catch-up organising his rations.

0:34:240:34:27

Some of it's better than army rations, some of it isn't.

0:34:330:34:36

Choc chip dessert is, that can go there.

0:34:360:34:40

What d'you reckon that says, lamb...mullade?

0:34:440:34:48

-Lamb mullen?

-It's like a cross between lamb and duck.

0:34:480:34:51

Whatever it is, it's going to get eaten.

0:34:510:34:55

Are you starting to get to know the guys a little bit?

0:34:550:34:58

Yeah, I am actually. On that first day, that little ski trip we did,

0:34:580:35:03

had a chance to spend some time with each of them.

0:35:030:35:07

That's very good, by the way.

0:35:070:35:09

Had it this morning, it's really nice. Doesn't look nice.

0:35:090:35:13

Definitely looking forward to it, actually. Just trying to work out

0:35:130:35:17

whether I'll be glad to get off the ice or not.

0:35:170:35:19

Hopefully I won't be glad,

0:35:190:35:21

hopefully I'll miss them and hopefully I'll want to stay.

0:35:210:35:25

Because then that means it hasn't been too hard, it means they'll make it.

0:35:250:35:29

Sunshine cereal with raspberry...

0:35:290:35:32

That will cheer my day up.

0:35:320:35:36

Is this very different for you, you know,

0:35:380:35:40

I say getting away from the limelight, but...

0:35:400:35:42

being able to go off and do something on your own?

0:35:420:35:45

Do you mean without policemen and security and so on? Yeah, I know,

0:35:450:35:49

I am looking forward to that.

0:35:490:35:51

I think this takes it to the extreme. I could have just gone for a walk at home, couldn't I, really?

0:35:510:35:57

It will be nice to be just with these guys.

0:35:570:35:59

It's going to be five army lads, and then two old blokes and a couple of guides,

0:35:590:36:05

and then you two.

0:36:050:36:07

It's quite a strange bunch, to be honest.

0:36:070:36:10

We'll all send each other mad!

0:36:100:36:12

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

0:36:120:36:14

If I eat that much in five days, my body's going to be doing things that it's never done before.

0:36:140:36:19

With the main packing out of the way,

0:36:190:36:22

the team can concentrate on smaller, unfinished tasks...

0:36:220:36:26

-HARRY LAUGHS

-That guy's pretty...

0:36:260:36:30

..like customising their kit for the North Pole.

0:36:310:36:34

Oh, yes!

0:36:340:36:35

I'm about to make a Household Division standard. How am I going to do this?

0:36:350:36:40

Both Prince Harry and Sergeant Steve Young are part of the Household Division,

0:36:400:36:44

whose colours are blue, red, blue.

0:36:440:36:49

Harry wants to make a regimental flash for his polar jacket.

0:36:490:36:52

This is the only problem with being part of the Household Division.

0:36:520:36:55

If you want to do this, you have to do it properly.

0:36:550:36:58

If I don't, old Stevie boy next door is going to go, "No you can't wear that."

0:36:580:37:03

I can't... I...

0:37:030:37:05

HE LAUGHS

0:37:050:37:07

But the third in line to the throne isn't experienced with a needle and thread.

0:37:070:37:12

Oh-la!

0:37:120:37:13

Don't zoom in.

0:37:170:37:18

Don't! I can see your fingers working.

0:37:180:37:20

LAUGHTER

0:37:200:37:23

I bet you can't see the green string.

0:37:230:37:25

-That's pathetic.

-Don't rip it!

-That is pathetic.

-Please don't!

0:37:250:37:29

-If it was one of my blokes...

-Does it take you long to sew, though?

0:37:290:37:32

About five minutes, probably.

0:37:320:37:34

Five minutes? I knew there was a reason you were on the trip.

0:37:340:37:37

What, for sewing?

0:37:370:37:38

It's great to feel you're needed, honest to God, it is.

0:37:380:37:41

It's great to feel part of the team.

0:37:410:37:43

'Prince Harry is obviously an officer.'

0:37:430:37:45

Obviously, an officer. But I suppose it's not expected for officers to be very good at sewing!

0:37:450:37:50

Proof's in the pudding - it was a good effort, but I'll do it for him, no problem, yeah.

0:37:500:37:56

I can hear you in the corridor!

0:37:580:38:01

Tomorrow, the team depart for the ice.

0:38:030:38:07

It's their last chance to enjoy a proper meal.

0:38:110:38:14

OK, video diary, erm, Harry Wales...

0:38:200:38:23

Can't wait to get on the ice with these guys.

0:38:260:38:29

Just get to spend some time with them in a very special place.

0:38:300:38:34

So, I can't wait to see it, and then I'll be very sad to leave them.

0:38:340:38:39

They're not just doing it for themselves, they're doing it for all their mates

0:38:410:38:45

and their comrades and everybody else in the British Forces,

0:38:450:38:48

who, you know, have given the ultimate sacrifice.

0:38:480:38:51

I hope everything goes according to plan, and they get to the end,

0:38:520:38:56

and there's tears and hugs and all that sort of stuff.

0:38:560:38:59

So, good on them. Good luck, guys, really good luck.

0:38:590:39:03

It's very hard to be serious with you, because you're always laughing,

0:39:050:39:09

but I mean it from the bottom of my heart -

0:39:090:39:11

best of luck.

0:39:110:39:13

Signing off. If I can find the right button.

0:39:130:39:15

The next morning, there's a nasty surprise.

0:39:200:39:24

Overnight, an Arctic storm has blown in and the team's departure is delayed.

0:39:240:39:30

The jet meant to fly them to Barneo, the Russian ice station, is grounded.

0:39:320:39:37

For four days, all they can do is kill time.

0:39:370:39:41

Yeah, we'll do that tonight.

0:39:480:39:50

That's all right, we suddenly thought that was a bad idea.

0:39:500:39:53

On the back of my diary, I've got all the dates, how long we're here.

0:39:550:40:00

I've crossed off a heck of a lot! We haven't taken one step yet!

0:40:020:40:05

And then...

0:40:120:40:14

Good news or bad news? Bad news?

0:40:140:40:16

-Yep.

-It's minus 42 out there.

0:40:160:40:19

-Nice, nice.

-Good news?

0:40:190:40:21

-Yep.

-Finally...

0:40:210:40:23

-green light.

-Get it on, get it on!

0:40:230:40:26

We're taking the pulks out tonight at six, and then we will fly tomorrow afternoon.

0:40:290:40:35

Finally going!

0:40:350:40:36

That's good news, that's what that is. Let's get going.

0:40:360:40:39

Good news.

0:40:410:40:43

Is that good dancing or bad dancing?

0:40:440:40:48

Erm, we're going tomorrow.

0:40:480:40:49

-What's tomorrow, Sunday?

-Yeah.

-Cool.

0:40:490:40:52

-Is that coming?

-Yeah.

-HE LAUGHS

0:40:520:40:54

That is coming? That's coming?!

0:40:540:40:57

After 13 months of planning, preparation and training, the team are on their way.

0:40:590:41:06

Walls don't move with you!

0:41:060:41:08

THEY LAUGH

0:41:080:41:11

'It's unbelievable really, that I've been given this opportunity to do it.

0:41:210:41:25

'Stevie, from the Rhondda Valley, it's unheard of.

0:41:250:41:29

'I think this is like, sort of, the end of a two-year part of my life.

0:41:300:41:36

'It's taken a massive chunk out of my life, this injury.

0:41:360:41:39

'It's like, sort of, an end goal,

0:41:390:41:43

'me going to the North Pole.

0:41:430:41:45

'Before I went to Afghan, I had several major fears - one, to lose a bloke, and that happened.

0:41:480:41:53

'It's something that'll be with me until the day I die.

0:41:530:41:56

'Two, I didn't want anyone to die in our regiment - we lost six guys.

0:41:580:42:02

'Three, quite selfishly, I didn't want to get injured myself,

0:42:020:42:06

'I didn't want to lose legs - and that happened.

0:42:060:42:09

'It's a fault of the young - you feel completely immortal until you have a bit of a knock.

0:42:090:42:15

'It's going to be hard, it's going to be difficult.

0:42:150:42:19

'All you can do is train, seek advice from those that have done it.

0:42:190:42:24

'And then prepare yourselves as best you can -

0:42:240:42:28

'in our case, adapt and improvise to accommodate our injuries.

0:42:280:42:33

'I think we've done that.

0:42:330:42:35

'Life isn't easy.

0:42:370:42:39

'It takes me always a couple of minutes extra to do something now.

0:42:390:42:43

'And then when you're on your own, you need a bit of help, but there's no-one to help you.

0:42:430:42:48

'There is days when I'm angry and fed up, yes.

0:42:480:42:52

'You just need to put your pride away,

0:42:520:42:54

'you just need to let someone help you.

0:42:540:42:57

'I think it's great, I think it's going to be life-changing, to be honest.

0:42:570:43:02

-HARRY:

-'My only concern is the mentality within the British Forces

0:43:040:43:08

'is, if you're feeling yourself becoming man down,

0:43:080:43:10

'then you don't say anything, cos you're so mentally willing to be at the front.

0:43:100:43:14

'You will eventually just drop.

0:43:140:43:16

'But obviously in these environments, you can't do that, you have to be honest with yourself.

0:43:160:43:21

'Gone are the days of trying to be Mr Tough Guy - if you have a problem, a niggle,

0:43:210:43:25

'you talk about it and you share the pain, because otherwise you're never going to survive,

0:43:250:43:29

'simple as that.'

0:43:290:43:31

It's 4.45am.

0:43:350:43:37

The team and patron Prince Harry have just landed at their start point on the frozen Arctic Sea -

0:43:370:43:44

160 miles from the North Pole.

0:43:440:43:48

It's the most amazing landscape I've ever seen in my life

0:43:490:43:53

and I think we're about to feel pretty isolated when the helicopter goes.

0:43:530:43:57

Once this chopper leaves,

0:44:010:44:02

we are officially the most northern people for 2011.

0:44:020:44:10

-Aren't we, Dags?

-We are.

0:44:100:44:12

We are the most northerly people on Earth at the moment.

0:44:120:44:15

Early, very, very early.

0:44:150:44:19

Bit of peace and quiet.

0:44:200:44:22

Been a while. It's a nice place.

0:44:220:44:24

It's quite far to come for some peace and quiet, though.

0:44:240:44:27

I'm not going to lie. It's pretty far away. But, hey,

0:44:270:44:30

amongst friends. What could possibly go wrong?

0:44:300:44:33

The plan is to rest a few hours before setting off at midday.

0:44:350:44:39

Guy and Martin are sharing a tent with expedition founder, Simon Daglish.

0:44:390:44:46

OK, you're in, Guy.

0:44:460:44:48

While Jaco and Steve are with expedition founder, Ed Parker.

0:44:480:44:53

Prince Harry's in with the guide, Inge Solheim.

0:44:550:44:59

How to make a tent in under five minutes.

0:44:590:45:02

Tents pitched, next it's melting snow for water, and that means lighting their stoves.

0:45:100:45:17

That would be good - day one, within the first hour...

0:45:230:45:28

Fooh! Eyebrows gone.

0:45:280:45:30

Now we're good.

0:45:300:45:32

Cooking on gas.

0:45:320:45:34

It's one of those things if you get wrong in a tent like this,

0:45:340:45:38

then you spend about a minute standing around

0:45:380:45:41

with a giant hand warmer and then a few days without a tent.

0:45:410:45:44

It's really that simple.

0:45:460:45:47

The team go to sleep.

0:45:500:45:53

Bye.

0:45:530:45:56

When they wake up,

0:46:050:46:08

they spend two hours rehydrating their rations and making water for the day ahead.

0:46:080:46:14

It's actually quite mild today.

0:46:180:46:20

-It's a bit windy.

-It's minus seven in here.

-Yeah, a cosy minus seven.

0:46:200:46:24

It's all running like clockwork.

0:46:240:46:27

How was your first night on the Arctic Ocean?

0:46:270:46:29

It was good. Do you want me to wipe that?

0:46:290:46:32

That better? It was good. It was really toasty warm.

0:46:350:46:40

I wasn't cold once. Both of us were snoring our heads off,

0:46:400:46:44

and I woke up satisfied that I've had enough sleep.

0:46:440:46:48

You seem to get on well with the guys.

0:46:490:46:52

As far as I am concerned, I'm one of the lads. I probably have

0:46:520:46:55

three different lives. One's my military life, one's my private life

0:46:550:46:59

and one's the sort of the public stuff.

0:46:590:47:01

It all intertwines with each other, but, you know,

0:47:010:47:05

me as a military man is probably my number one favourite

0:47:050:47:09

because you get to spend time with people like this.

0:47:090:47:13

It is very special.

0:47:130:47:15

They set off at 1.26, heading across the frozen Arctic sea.

0:47:200:47:27

This is rather unique.

0:47:270:47:31

It's barren,

0:47:310:47:32

it's oppressive, it's unforgiving.

0:47:320:47:35

It's quite surreal.

0:47:370:47:39

The team have 160 miles of icy wilderness ahead of them.

0:47:420:47:47

They need to average ten miles a day

0:47:470:47:50

to arrive at the geographic North Pole, the top of the world,

0:47:500:47:55

in 16 days' time.

0:47:550:47:57

Despite its raw beauty, this is a dangerous place.

0:48:020:48:07

The weather can turn in seconds, the ice can split apart

0:48:070:48:11

and the extreme cold takes a severe toll.

0:48:110:48:15

Within 30 minutes, it's claiming its first victim.

0:48:180:48:21

-Yeah, your chin here has already been frostbitten.

-Yeah.

0:48:260:48:33

See, it's white.

0:48:330:48:35

The hood should cover you

0:48:350:48:38

so it protects your face.

0:48:380:48:41

You guys have to watch out for each other.

0:48:410:48:44

When skin freezes, the first stage of damage is frost nip.

0:48:440:48:50

Next it's frostbite, which can lead to amputation.

0:48:500:48:54

Wind-chill just caused a little bit of frost nip on my cheek here,

0:48:540:48:59

so I'm just trying to stay out of the wind, try to keep that covered.

0:48:590:49:03

Getting a cold injury is serious.

0:49:030:49:06

Jaco could be evacuated off the ice if it gets worse.

0:49:060:49:11

With his face protected, the team take a pit stop.

0:49:110:49:17

First things first, warm kit, essential.

0:49:170:49:21

But for one-armed Jaco, it's all a struggle.

0:49:230:49:28

-Do you need a hand?

-Yeah.

0:49:280:49:30

-Where's your food?

-It's in there.

0:49:300:49:33

In the harsh climate,

0:49:330:49:34

the team will burn up to 8,000 calories each per day.

0:49:340:49:38

Keeping the body fuelled is essential.

0:49:380:49:41

I've got some jelly beans in there, which will taste like old pebbles,

0:49:430:49:46

cos they're so frozen and they pretty much take your teeth out.

0:49:460:49:50

Ahh!

0:49:500:49:55

Once in their polar rhythm,

0:49:550:49:57

they'll ski for two hours and break for ten minutes, all day long.

0:49:570:50:01

But on day one, the routine is far from set.

0:50:030:50:08

The progress is really slow. It's difficult to move around. The weight of the pulks,

0:50:080:50:14

the terrain we're moving, it's quite difficult.

0:50:140:50:17

Where the ice breaks up, it forms mini mountain ranges called pressure ridges.

0:50:220:50:28

Sometimes it's one metre high and sometimes it's six metres high.

0:50:280:50:32

They're a messy mix of hard-as-concrete lumps of ice, all piled on top of each other.

0:50:350:50:41

Skis are coming off.

0:50:410:50:43

We're crossing something big.

0:50:430:50:45

For Guy, who lost his leg in a rocket-propelled grenade attack

0:50:490:50:54

in Afghanistan, it's hard negotiating the rough stuff.

0:50:540:50:57

It's difficult terrain.

0:50:570:50:59

Getting the pulk over some of the big bits is hard work. We've just got to deal with it.

0:50:590:51:05

For Martin and Jaco, with missing or damaged arms, getting over the ice boulders is equally challenging.

0:51:050:51:10

Ah! Ha-ha!

0:51:100:51:13

Steve needs to be extra careful with his fragile back.

0:51:130:51:19

Having Harry along is a great help.

0:51:190:51:23

Everybody's helping everybody. It's the only way.

0:51:230:51:25

The team have no choice but to scramble over the pressure ridges,

0:51:280:51:32

hauling their heavy pulks all the way.

0:51:320:51:36

Wow!

0:51:380:51:41

-Is that the good leg or the bad leg?

-It's not the bad leg.

0:51:410:51:44

You can easily get your foot trapped and the pulk can run over it and break your leg.

0:51:440:51:49

Pulling it over the rubble is difficult.

0:51:510:51:54

Because of the sheer weight, you've got to really drive into it

0:51:540:51:58

and then you risk falling over, front first.

0:51:580:52:01

If you're looking back through there, it's just mental.

0:52:070:52:10

But then, this way, it looks flat.

0:52:120:52:15

Probably done about two and a bit miles, maybe?

0:52:150:52:18

The team keep going,

0:52:210:52:24

slowly heading north.

0:52:240:52:27

It's opened my eyes to a whole new world.

0:52:300:52:33

I presume after a few days it probably kicks in and you get into a rhythm,

0:52:330:52:39

but at the moment, you can't get into a rhythm because of this stuff, but it's like this the whole way.

0:52:390:52:45

Pitching camp at 7.30, the first day has been a shock.

0:52:470:52:51

They've covered 6.5 miles,

0:52:510:52:55

but should have done ten.

0:52:550:52:57

It's not a great start.

0:52:570:53:00

I don't think there's anybody here who couldn't admit that today caught them slightly off guard.

0:53:070:53:12

They'd be lying.

0:53:120:53:13

But no, it was good, you know, day one of exercise.

0:53:130:53:17

Takes time getting into things.

0:53:190:53:22

And my legs now - ow!

0:53:220:53:25

The most important thing is morale.

0:53:250:53:29

And today, a few of the guys got a bit down,

0:53:290:53:33

a bit, "This is quite full-on, we're going to have to do this for three weeks."

0:53:330:53:37

But full respect to these guys,

0:53:370:53:39

and full respect to anybody who does this.

0:53:390:53:42

A morning routine is getting established.

0:53:520:53:55

But working with just one hand is slow, especially in a thick mitten.

0:53:590:54:05

Last to be packed away are the tents,

0:54:260:54:29

the team's only shelter on the ice.

0:54:290:54:32

I've got some sweet tunes playing in my ear.

0:54:330:54:39

So...

0:54:390:54:41

..excuse me if I start bopping.

0:54:430:54:47

Ah!

0:54:470:54:48

The team must improve on yesterday's performance if they hope to reach the Pole.

0:54:500:54:54

Day two. We did 10 kilometres yesterday.

0:55:000:55:04

Today we need to do at least 15.

0:55:040:55:07

Not very likely.

0:55:080:55:10

It's all about trying to get into the rhythm.

0:55:100:55:13

I wish my brother was here, actually. I really wish he was here.

0:55:180:55:22

He'd quite enjoy this.

0:55:220:55:25

As in, just for a couple of days!

0:55:250:55:28

It feels a little bit cheating, but Willie would love this.

0:55:280:55:33

"Happy stag weekend! We're walking to the North Pole!"

0:55:350:55:38

Some people find it very strange that people always want to go back to Afghanistan.

0:55:420:55:46

I understand it now.

0:55:460:55:48

The hardest thing for these guys is being told that they can't work any more.

0:55:500:55:54

The hardest thing for Martin is the fact that he can't go into battle any more,

0:55:540:55:59

be with his mates, do what he loves, you know?

0:55:590:56:04

The team has started day two well, but up here, nothing's guaranteed.

0:56:070:56:12

The ice rubble here is relatively challenging.

0:56:220:56:26

The precariously thin ice is giving way under Inge's skis.

0:56:280:56:32

It's quite fresh.

0:56:320:56:33

Probably formed yesterday, and it still hasn't frozen up properly.

0:56:330:56:37

They can't risk crossing it.

0:56:370:56:39

Would that be better?

0:56:390:56:41

That's the wrong way!

0:56:410:56:43

The team have no choice but to head into another maze of boulders and pressure ridges.

0:56:430:56:50

Crossing a mass of ice rubble, and it's quite hard work.

0:57:050:57:10

It's all helping me, because it's impossible to clear on my own.

0:57:130:57:17

This is the toughest test yet for the wounded soldiers.

0:57:240:57:28

Right on the ribs!

0:57:370:57:39

Ah-ha-ha! Ah!

0:57:390:57:41

Over the next two hours, they cover less than a mile.

0:57:440:57:48

Struggling to the end of the rubble field,

0:57:550:57:59

only to face worse as they emerge onto more dangerously thin ice.

0:57:590:58:05

This time, there's no option but to cross.

0:58:080:58:10

The ice can just take the weight of one man

0:58:100:58:14

and his 100-kilo pulk.

0:58:140:58:16

But with each crossing, it's getting weaker.

0:58:210:58:23

Steve sets off.

0:58:270:58:29

For Martin, once again, balancing with one arm is tricky.

0:58:400:58:45

He nearly ends up in the freezing Arctic Sea.

0:58:490:58:52

Harry's the last man across.

0:59:050:59:09

There's 2.5 miles of sea beneath him.

0:59:180:59:21

The weakened ice just holds.

0:59:340:59:37

Steve and I nearly just went straight through the ice!

0:59:370:59:40

We'd have seen a bit more of the ocean than we originally hoped for.

0:59:400:59:44

The team push on.

0:59:460:59:48

The point of this is to raise awareness. That's how I feel.

0:59:540:59:57

For these guys. They've been through hell.

0:59:571:00:00

And they've come out the other side.

1:00:001:00:02

And they are doing it for all the other servicemen and women.

1:00:021:00:06

They're still coming back. Injured.

1:00:071:00:11

I guess the support's getting better.

1:00:131:00:15

But it still needs to be so much better.

1:00:151:00:18

As they pitch camp, it's Harry's last night with the team.

1:00:321:00:37

Today has just been fantastic.

1:00:401:00:42

I couldn't have asked for better, as a final day.

1:00:421:00:45

Part of me wants to say that I really want to stay.

1:00:451:00:47

But I've got military commitments back home. It's not ideal.

1:00:471:00:51

A small wedding to help out with.

1:00:511:00:52

On top of that, without sounding like an idiot,

1:00:521:00:57

I don't want to steal the limelight from these guys.

1:00:571:00:59

I feel as though I've done my bit. I've been here, supported them,

1:00:591:01:04

had a great laugh with them, but now it's up to them.

1:01:041:01:06

It's Harry's final morning.

1:01:091:01:11

The chopper's due to pick him up in the next hour. In the meantime,

1:01:111:01:15

Guy and Martin have discovered a problem.

1:01:151:01:18

Woke up this morning to a crack running through the middle of the tent. Not good.

1:01:181:01:22

It brings it home that you're sitting on top of an ocean.

1:01:221:01:25

Slip down that, you're not coming back.

1:01:251:01:28

Strong ocean currents

1:01:281:01:30

and powerful winds keep the ice in constant motion.

1:01:301:01:34

It's this movement that creates pressure ridges

1:01:341:01:37

and also rips the ice apart, forming open-water leads.

1:01:371:01:42

But it's not just the polar ice that's affected.

1:01:421:01:46

We got a text message on the satellite phone

1:01:461:01:49

that the runway at Barneo had cracked.

1:01:491:01:51

You can't land a plane on a cracked runway.

1:01:511:01:54

Harry will have another day with the team.

1:01:561:01:59

I've got to march with these boys today, and get picked up tonight.

1:01:591:02:02

It is enjoyable.

1:02:121:02:15

You look around and it's like nothing that I've never seen before in my life. It's pristine, clean,

1:02:151:02:21

but, you know, it is hard going.

1:02:211:02:26

My back started aching about two hours ago,

1:02:261:02:28

so I've taken some painkillers.

1:02:281:02:30

You know, I wanted a challenge, and I've got one!

1:02:311:02:34

The relentless cold is affecting everyone.

1:02:371:02:40

Just hold it lightly.

1:02:401:02:42

Yeah, the blood circulation's back on this one.

1:02:471:02:51

Put your hat on, it's cool. And your hood in the beginning,

1:02:511:02:54

so you get really warm, and then you can take it off again.

1:02:541:02:58

Er, frost nipping my ears. I think it was going that way.

1:02:581:03:04

I was happily chatting to Jaco,

1:03:041:03:07

talking about his arm, or lack of,

1:03:071:03:10

having a bit of a banter with him, and then Inge comes running, going,

1:03:101:03:13

"Your ears, your ears!"

1:03:131:03:15

They went white quite quickly, but they're back, fine now.

1:03:151:03:18

Have to do what I'm told, and put my hood up.

1:03:181:03:21

Cool!

1:03:301:03:32

We continue.

1:03:321:03:33

They ski on to the end of the day.

1:03:371:03:40

It's 7pm. The runway's fixed. The helicopter's on its way.

1:03:541:03:59

For Harry, it's time to go back to his military duties.

1:03:591:04:03

I'm going to sit down, my feet hurt. Without doubt, the best day.

1:04:031:04:07

Blue sky, walking into the sun the majority of the day.

1:04:071:04:11

Wind behind our backs. I mean, look at this place.

1:04:111:04:14

It's beautiful. There's no place on earth like this.

1:04:141:04:17

I feel like I'm in a snow globe,

1:04:171:04:19

waiting for someone to shake it, hoping nobody will.

1:04:191:04:22

I'd love to stay. I'm going to miss these guys a lot.

1:04:241:04:27

After being part of the team for the past ten days,

1:04:301:04:33

there are fond farewells.

1:04:331:04:36

He's a cracking lad. He's brought a lot to the team. Just nice to have him for that time.

1:04:361:04:42

-North Pole. Come on back, man, come on, Jaco.

-Awesome. Awesome, yeah?

1:04:451:04:50

He just gave us a last word of encouragement. He's a real nice bloke.

1:04:501:04:54

Behave yourself, and hopefully you might grow a bit!

1:04:541:04:57

It's surreal. He's third in line to the throne.

1:05:081:05:11

But, ah, he's just been, you know, one of us. Another mate.

1:05:111:05:15

-Cheers, guys.

-I'll miss him. He's a good lad.

1:05:151:05:19

Harry won't see the guys again until they get back to the UK.

1:05:381:05:42

The team have covered just over 40 miles.

1:05:471:05:49

But they still have 120 to go.

1:05:521:05:56

The constant physical work and the cold are starting to take a toll.

1:05:561:06:01

Especially on Jaco.

1:06:011:06:03

I'm feeling a bit tired today. I had very bad sleep last night.

1:06:031:06:08

So I'm struggling a bit today.

1:06:081:06:10

I'm just putting a lot of fluids in, eating a lot of energy bars.

1:06:101:06:16

When Jaco was blown up in 2009,

1:06:181:06:21

he not only lost his left arm,

1:06:211:06:24

he had extensive internal injuries and was lucky to survive.

1:06:241:06:28

It's taken 15 operations to rebuild him.

1:06:281:06:31

It's no wonder he's suffering in the Arctic.

1:06:311:06:36

There are days when we'll all be struggling.

1:06:361:06:38

Jaco had more weight than me, so I took a small bag off him.

1:06:381:06:41

But he's just not quite as well as us at the moment.

1:06:411:06:45

I need to do everything just with one hand.

1:06:481:06:50

So Steve and Ed are absolute heroes in my eyes. They helped me a lot.

1:06:501:06:55

I don't think I realised quite when we got out here

1:06:571:07:00

how important that responsibility would become.

1:07:001:07:03

I think Dags and I are feeling it, just more than the boys know.

1:07:031:07:08

The team have crossed countless pressure ridges,

1:07:081:07:12

but now they're facing their first open-water lead,

1:07:121:07:16

where the ice breaks apart, revealing the freezing sea beneath.

1:07:161:07:21

It's cutting right across their route to the Pole.

1:07:211:07:23

So, the most important thing now is,

1:07:251:07:27

don't put your ski pole into the slush...

1:07:271:07:30

Basically, the ice, probably over two hours, has split apart.

1:07:401:07:46

Take your time. Careful!

1:07:461:07:48

-The danger is that, obviously, if you go in...

-Take that rope away, so that you don't trip in it.

1:07:511:07:56

..uh, then you're in deep trouble.

1:07:561:07:59

It doesn't look very dangerous, but because it's so narrow,

1:07:591:08:04

we don't want to get stuck in there.

1:08:041:08:06

Because it'll be difficult to get you out again.

1:08:061:08:08

So, ski pole,

1:08:081:08:10

follow, put that ski over.

1:08:101:08:14

If your pole goes in, it's going to pull you back in

1:08:161:08:20

and you're out of your harness and you go to the bottom of the sea.

1:08:201:08:23

This is only a small lead. The team makes it across.

1:08:371:08:41

The next morning, Jaco's better

1:08:461:08:48

and keen to protect the only part of his body not already scarred.

1:08:481:08:52

I put some plaster on my nose and on my cheeks,

1:08:531:08:58

just to prevent any form of frost nip.

1:08:581:09:01

I probably look like a right idiot, but with so much scars all over my body,

1:09:021:09:08

the face is probably the only place I haven't got a scar,

1:09:081:09:13

so there needs to be one there, as well! Trying to protect it.

1:09:131:09:17

Jaco's face may be covered up,

1:09:171:09:20

but the unrelenting grind is getting to Steve's delicate back.

1:09:201:09:24

One of those days where you think you're doing well,

1:09:241:09:28

but it just comes back and lets you know it was there.

1:09:281:09:32

Really, really hurting the last hour.

1:09:331:09:36

Steve's back was broken when his vehicle was blown up in Afghanistan.

1:09:371:09:42

I tried to get through with no painkillers, but I couldn't do it,

1:09:451:09:49

so I'll just smash some painkillers into me now, have a stretch off,

1:09:491:09:53

and just go for the rest of the day as best I can, really.

1:09:531:09:57

Get me through the next couple of hours.

1:10:021:10:05

Everyone's hurting in their own different way so you can't complain.

1:10:121:10:16

Just get through the day as best you can.

1:10:161:10:17

They put their heads down and soldier on.

1:10:171:10:22

The team have crossed many pressure ridges.

1:10:271:10:30

It's been a good day, and there's less than 100 miles to go.

1:10:301:10:35

-COUGHING

-Dear, oh dear. It's the end of day...

1:10:381:10:43

Holy cow, end of day...

1:10:431:10:44

Six?

1:10:441:10:45

No, five, end of day five. We've had a good day,

1:10:451:10:50

a really good day, actually, and we smashed in about 13½ miles,

1:10:501:10:55

which gives us a bit more in the bank.

1:10:551:10:57

It's a morale boost, covering the miles.

1:10:571:11:01

Day six,

1:11:011:11:02

and the guys are on top of their game, breaking camp in minutes.

1:11:021:11:07

The team are getting into the Arctic rhythm

1:11:071:11:12

but the constant physical work is getting to Guy.

1:11:121:11:15

My leg's starting to rub quite a lot

1:11:151:11:18

and, by the end of the day, it's really sore.

1:11:181:11:20

I took off the socket last night and it was really bloody,

1:11:201:11:23

which I've kept quiet, to be honest,

1:11:231:11:25

because I am conscious that we need to push on.

1:11:251:11:28

He lost his lower leg when an RPG

1:11:301:11:33

hit the armoured vehicle he was commanding.

1:11:331:11:35

I always know I've got about an hour left in it each day when it starts to get sore.

1:11:351:11:39

I can put up with that, knowing it's another hour off another day.

1:11:391:11:44

To be honest, as long as I have a breath in my body,

1:11:481:11:52

I'm going to the North Pole.

1:11:521:11:54

Expedition founder Simon Daglish is worried.

1:11:571:12:00

I was just talking to Ed. Just a mild concern about Guy's leg.

1:12:001:12:05

It looks a little bit sore, and we just need to make sure that drive and determination

1:12:051:12:09

doesn't take over from actually leaving permanent damage.

1:12:091:12:13

Later on, Guy's examining his stump after another long day.

1:12:161:12:20

We've got a cream that we put on at night,

1:12:201:12:25

it's just good for aches and pains.

1:12:251:12:27

I'm just having a few rubs around the joint there.

1:12:271:12:30

Any prominent part on the leg, it catches the prosthesis,

1:12:301:12:33

and it's not really that bad, it's like any blister, but you've just got to manage it and look after it.

1:12:331:12:39

To me, the worst-case scenario is the stump itself gets infected

1:12:391:12:43

and I have to chop more off, which would be disastrous, as bad as it gets.

1:12:431:12:48

Another day dawns over the Arctic.

1:12:531:12:55

In just six days, they're nearly halfway.

1:12:551:12:59

But there's still a long way to go.

1:12:591:13:01

For the wounded soldiers, this trip is about more than getting to the Pole -

1:13:061:13:10

it's also about their futures.

1:13:101:13:13

Guy and Steve are staying in the Army,

1:13:151:13:18

but Jaco and Martin are being medically discharged.

1:13:181:13:21

Spent a fair bit of time thinking about what I'll do in a couple of months when I leave the Army.

1:13:231:13:28

This is a good place to collect your thoughts and think about the future.

1:13:281:13:32

Martin's Army career ended when he was shot through the right shoulder in Afghanistan in 2007.

1:13:341:13:40

The thought of doing anything else is...

1:13:421:13:45

It just doesn't cross your mind,

1:13:451:13:47

until you take a hit, which means you can't do your job any more.

1:13:471:13:51

I just prepare myself to go on

1:13:511:13:54

and do whatever I'm going to do next, which is still unknown.

1:13:541:13:58

In four years, he's had 13 operations

1:14:001:14:03

to try and repair his arm.

1:14:031:14:05

There's an intensified nerve pain because of the cold,

1:14:071:14:12

and it's inflamed because I've banged it a fair few times.

1:14:121:14:17

I'm not sure if I've bruised the bone

1:14:171:14:19

or it's just the cold that's doing it.

1:14:191:14:22

One nasty fall is all it takes.

1:14:221:14:24

I've had a lot of falls, but luckily, so far,

1:14:241:14:28

none of them have caused any major injuries.

1:14:281:14:30

The soldiers are coping well

1:14:321:14:34

but every day, the Arctic throws up more challenges.

1:14:341:14:37

Slightly frustrating, we've just come across a huge water lead,

1:14:371:14:42

by far the biggest we've found so far,

1:14:421:14:44

so we're trying to find a way around it,

1:14:441:14:47

whether we will or not, it's pretty big.

1:14:471:14:50

These leads can extend for miles.

1:14:501:14:52

The team head east, away from the Pole, losing valuable time.

1:14:521:14:58

Eventually, they find a crossing point.

1:15:021:15:05

Inge's plan is to use the pulks as floating pontoons

1:15:071:15:12

to bridge the gap over the freezing sea.

1:15:121:15:15

The water is between minus 1.5 and 2 degrees.

1:15:151:15:19

It's the salination and the movement that keeps it relatively open.

1:15:191:15:25

-What would happen if someone fell into that?

-It would be very cold.

1:15:251:15:28

-JACO:

-Just a little bit hairy,

1:15:281:15:30

especially for me and Martin, we have to balance with one hand.

1:15:301:15:34

If we fall to our weak side,

1:15:341:15:37

that's us in the water, so I might just get wet, you know.

1:15:371:15:40

It takes a bit of time,

1:15:421:15:43

but it breaks the day up and it's something different.

1:15:431:15:46

Gets the heart racing, as well.

1:15:461:15:48

Wait there, wait there, wait there.

1:15:481:15:51

Yeah, it's a little bit hairy, but, um,

1:16:001:16:04

but it's a bit of variety.

1:16:041:16:06

Our only fear is that we don't meet too many of them,

1:16:061:16:09

because it's very time-consuming.

1:16:091:16:11

There's no way any of us want to fall in.

1:16:111:16:14

All the pulks we pulled across,

1:16:141:16:16

all the water on them is frozen instantly.

1:16:161:16:19

The guys are safely over.

1:16:201:16:23

Despite all the team have been through in this bleak landscape,

1:16:281:16:32

they're in high spirits.

1:16:321:16:34

Captain Hewitt here, diary day nine.

1:16:401:16:44

Is it day nine today?

1:16:441:16:45

All good. Martin did a stint in front, which was pretty frenetic.

1:16:451:16:50

All after today...

1:16:501:16:52

Dags is well, not as grumpy as usual today, which is nice, I think that's because the sun's out.

1:16:541:16:59

-This is exactly what we've got to work with. Got to put up with this, day in, day out!

-Hello, Miss Lady!

1:16:591:17:05

Sergeant Young's in good humour. He remembered to salute me this morning, he doesn't always.

1:17:051:17:09

All the days have merged into one, apparently.

1:17:091:17:12

Oh, is it a pick-and-mix? Look.

1:17:121:17:15

Look at the beauties down there. Mmm-mmm!

1:17:151:17:19

Everything seems to be going their way.

1:17:191:17:20

All in all, a good day.

1:17:201:17:23

But the Arctic can catch you unawares.

1:17:361:17:40

MAN CRIES OUT

1:17:471:17:50

One of the expedition founders, Ed, has taken a fall.

1:18:011:18:06

Put up the tent there - immediately.

1:18:061:18:09

Inge's in charge.

1:18:091:18:11

We need a tent.

1:18:111:18:13

Until he knows how bad Ed is, he assumes the worst.

1:18:131:18:17

-Get one of theirs.

-OK.

1:18:171:18:19

I think his ribs. I think so, I'm not sure.

1:18:191:18:22

Have you got some foam mats?

1:18:221:18:25

You OK?

1:18:281:18:30

Can you describe what happened?

1:18:301:18:32

I hit my back on the...

1:18:321:18:35

When I heard him fall, I genuinely thought he'd broken his back.

1:18:371:18:41

I heard the most almighty crack and was thinking,

1:18:411:18:46

"Christ, he's going to be in a wheelchair all his life," and I thought, "That's it, game over."

1:18:461:18:51

How is...how is the pain?

1:18:521:18:54

Do you think it's your spine?

1:18:581:19:00

-Yes, the spine, although I can feel my legs.

-What?

1:19:001:19:04

It makes you realise how quickly a trip like this can go wrong.

1:19:141:19:19

Thought I'd lost you there for two seconds

1:19:191:19:21

because you fainted and hit your head down there.

1:19:211:19:24

It would have been a cruel, cruel blow if one of the guys

1:19:241:19:28

who's put so much work into this project ended up unable to make it.

1:19:281:19:32

You all right, Parks?

1:19:321:19:33

-What happened?

-I slipped and hit my back right on the edge.

1:19:331:19:37

I had my pulk at the top of that little piece of snow

1:19:371:19:40

and there's a slab of ice.

1:19:401:19:42

The skis just went from under me and I fell backwards,

1:19:421:19:45

and my back fell right on the edge of the ice.

1:19:451:19:48

I had this shooting pain across my back

1:19:481:19:53

and my first thought was... it's not very good.

1:19:531:19:56

Luckily, this time, it looks like he went OK, but you never know.

1:19:561:19:59

It just seems wrong, Inge now having to pull my sledge.

1:19:591:20:03

We're not meant to be here, really, is the long and short of it.

1:20:031:20:08

Humans don't live here for very good reasons,

1:20:081:20:11

because it's uninhabitable, so we're here as guests.

1:20:111:20:14

Should we somehow become detached from that pulk,

1:20:141:20:17

which is our lives, we wouldn't survive.

1:20:171:20:20

I was thinking that it's a little like what Steve encounters,

1:20:221:20:27

then I realised I hadn't broken my back,

1:20:271:20:31

it was just a tiny modicum of what he feels,

1:20:311:20:34

which is really why I shut up fairly quickly

1:20:341:20:37

and got back on to my pulk, but Steve has that every day.

1:20:371:20:40

With Ed's fall fresh in their minds, the reality of the Arctic hits home.

1:20:451:20:51

I didn't really go into this with the attitude that failure was an option.

1:20:531:20:58

Any of us on our own would have really struggled with this,

1:20:591:21:03

but together, we work well as a unit.

1:21:031:21:07

They put their heads down and motor

1:21:071:21:09

to get off the ice as quickly as possible.

1:21:091:21:13

I feel about 90 years old today. Proper feeling it today.

1:21:131:21:16

I think it was my body's way of rebelling, basically,

1:21:161:21:20

and asking me to go back home to a nice warm room!

1:21:201:21:24

The team have less than 40 miles to go, but that's still a gruelling three days' trek.

1:21:241:21:30

We've got to keep going, got to keep going.

1:21:301:21:35

It's 8:30am.

1:21:461:21:48

The team's 12th day on the ice

1:21:481:21:50

and it could be their last.

1:21:501:21:52

They're only 10 miles from the North Pole.

1:21:531:21:56

Very much an end-of-term feeling.

1:21:561:22:00

I had a smile on my face when I woke up. I looked outside, absolutely beautiful day,

1:22:001:22:04

a glorious day today, and we're just raring to go now.

1:22:041:22:07

We're just doing the last final packing.

1:22:071:22:10

It's been a long time coming,

1:22:101:22:12

so eight hours from now we'll be on the Pole.

1:22:121:22:16

Yeah, I suppose when we first were interviewed

1:22:261:22:31

and started looking into doing this,

1:22:311:22:33

I don't think I ever thought we'd get this far so easily.

1:22:331:22:37

I just count myself lucky to be a part of it.

1:22:371:22:40

It's been a wonderful experience, absolutely great.

1:22:441:22:48

For myself, it's been a 20-month period of my life,

1:22:531:22:57

at times quite a dark period,

1:22:571:22:59

and it's a good way of putting it all behind me.

1:22:591:23:02

For me it's been about demonstrating that,

1:23:061:23:09

if you're willing to adapt and you're able to adapt post-injury,

1:23:091:23:13

you can go on and do some great stuff.

1:23:131:23:16

From here, 299 metres.

1:23:201:23:23

If anyone were ever to say to me, "Was it easy?"

1:23:261:23:29

The answer is, definitely no, it wasn't.

1:23:291:23:32

I think what these four soldiers have achieved is amazing.

1:23:341:23:38

Their determination, sometimes their bloody determination,

1:23:391:23:43

in getting here is incredible.

1:23:431:23:45

And, frankly, something I think will remain with us for the rest of our lives.

1:23:471:23:52

23 metres!

1:23:591:24:00

We're here.

1:24:091:24:11

Congratulations, guys.

1:24:111:24:13

CHEERING

1:24:131:24:15

-Job done, Parks.

-Job done!

1:24:171:24:20

-Mate, well done.

-Well done.

-Good effort, mate.

1:24:201:24:23

Good man. Well done, yeah?

1:24:241:24:26

Can't say, really.

1:24:301:24:31

Two years, and we've made it.

1:24:421:24:46

Amazing. Well, WE haven't made it.

1:24:471:24:49

These guys have made it. That's amazing, amazing.

1:24:491:24:52

-Thank you.

-Thank you. It was a great trip.

1:24:521:24:56

-Gob.

-Steve Boy!

1:24:561:24:58

Pleasure as always, mate!

1:24:581:25:00

Lovely. Give me one of those - pow! Boys!

1:25:001:25:03

Incredible - what an amazing bunch of guys.

1:25:061:25:09

What an amazing achievement.

1:25:091:25:11

Incredible. Can't say any more.

1:25:131:25:16

CHEERING

1:25:161:25:18

Faster! Go, go, go!

1:25:201:25:23

Fantastic moment.

1:25:251:25:26

We've done it well, we've done it fast,

1:25:271:25:30

and their injuries are exactly how they were when we left,

1:25:301:25:34

so it's a huge, huge success,

1:25:341:25:36

and I'm just as pleased as punch.

1:25:361:25:40

Awesome. Can't believe we're here, can't believe we're here.

1:25:401:25:44

I claim this bit of sea for Wales!

1:25:441:25:46

It's been a hard old slog, and I'm just glad we're all here as a team, awesome.

1:25:491:25:53

I always thought we'd make it, but just wasn't sure of the time

1:25:581:26:01

or what state we'd be in when we got here.

1:26:011:26:05

It's a good place to be right now, it really is.

1:26:051:26:08

It's been hard, emotional, fun, absolutely everything in it.

1:26:081:26:12

I'm actually quite a bit shaky, so it's time for celebrations.

1:26:121:26:15

Time to be happy.

1:26:151:26:17

We've done it.

1:26:181:26:20

Someone said to me directly, "You won't do it."

1:26:201:26:23

And to those, I'd simply say that I'm disabled, I'm standing on the geographic North Pole,

1:26:231:26:28

I've walked hundreds of kilometres unsupported to get here with this team.

1:26:281:26:33

Very special moment, mate.

1:26:351:26:37

I'm going to miss this.

1:26:381:26:40

And now I think I'm going to go somewhere hot. With a beach.

1:26:411:26:45

What they've done is absolutely fantastic.

1:26:521:26:54

They should have probably tried to make it look a bit harder, I think,

1:26:541:26:58

because to do this trip in 13 days or something, 4 days early,

1:26:581:27:01

it's incredible, really, really is incredible.

1:27:011:27:04

Five days later, and the Walking With The Wounded team are finally home in the UK.

1:27:051:27:11

They've all been to the edge of life and have returned,

1:27:201:27:25

rebuilt and rehabilitated.

1:27:251:27:27

Hugely proud of them. I was gutted to have missed them

1:27:271:27:31

and not to be able to stay with them, though I was exhausted at times.

1:27:311:27:34

I feel as though I missed out on a trip.

1:27:341:27:37

They have gone from the heat of Afghanistan to the freezing Arctic.

1:27:371:27:43

Everyone keeps throwing that word "inspirational" around,

1:27:431:27:47

but I think at the end of the day, what they've done

1:27:471:27:50

is truly, truly inspirational, and now, hopefully,

1:27:501:27:53

it'll show other people what you can do,

1:27:531:27:56

despite, you know, missing an arm or a leg.

1:27:561:27:59

They've not only conquered the North Pole,

1:27:591:28:02

they've conquered their life-threatening injuries.

1:28:021:28:05

They've proved to themselves and to everyone else that,

1:28:051:28:09

no matter what life throws at you,

1:28:091:28:12

hope, ambition and determination can help to overcome.

1:28:121:28:17

Everyone should be very proud of them, and they should be proud of themselves.

1:28:171:28:22

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1:28:471:28:51

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1:28:511:28:56

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