Man on Wheelchair Creates History as First Paraplegic to Touch the Mt. Everest Foothills

Greatness in sports is often defined by the adversity an athlete endures to reach the pinnacle. A 38-year-old paraplegic man from Sydney climbed to the base camp of Mt. Everest after hearing he would never walk again. His story of going from paralysis to the base of the tallest peak in the world is a story of triumph, greatness, and inspiration.

Jay Stevens lost his ability to walk after a horrific helicopter crash in 2018 because of a spinal cord injury. Few can withstand their circumstances and stay determined in adversity like him. How a strong-minded Stevens made his way through to the Mt. Everest base camp is a journey worth applauding!

Stevens touches Mt. Everest’s base camp and glory

The trek was a 130-kilometer journey, which he and his friends covered in 12 days. With the help of his team and friends, he walked through the rough terrains leading up to the base camp. They faced extreme conditions like sub-zero temperatures, with a path filled with boulders and excruciating climbs.

For him, the camaraderie with his fellow mates and team and his undying spirit powered him through. His belief in his own abilities was far more potent than any fear.

Talking about the initial days of the journey, Stevens recalled the difficulties he faced and said, “Day One was 13 or 14 hours finishing in the dark, and after that, it became apparent it was certainly a lot harder than I’d anticipated.“

“It was more just a deeper sense of accomplishment, I think I really enjoyed the process of getting there, the training, obviously what it took to get to that point,” he said when asked about how it felt to touch the boulder at the base camp.

A father of two, Stevens was ably supported by his family, who always believed in his spirit. Determined to cross the hurdle, he trained six hours a day and set off for his courageous hike to the base camp of Mt. Everest. His triumphant journey to the base camp made him the first paraplegic to hike there without a wheelchair.

The accident that started it all

Six years ago, Jacob, an excellent sales representative, got a helicopter as a reward, but it all turned fateful in Uluru. His chopper crashed and left him with severe injuries to the hip, spine, and sternum. He miraculously survived, but the fatal crash left him paralyzed. Recalling it, Stevens remembered the dread and regret that swept across his mind.

After spending months in the hospital in recovery and rehabilitation, Stevens watched documentaries, giving him a sense of purpose. Four years after the accident, the determined man started plotting his path to the base camp of Mt. Everest.