Wounded soldier embarks on South Pole challenge (From York Press)

Wounded soldier embarks on South Pole challenge

10:22am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

A SOLDIER who lost an arm while serving in Afghanistan is set to take part in one of the toughest challenges on the planet.

Ibrar Ali, who lives in Selby, is in training for the Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge, which will see a team of injured former soldiers from the UK, USA and the Commonwealth cross the pole.

Captain Ali, 35, was commanding a three-vehicle patrol when a roadside bomb killed the driver of his vehicle and badly injured two other soldiers in 2007.

Despite losing his right hand and being wounded in the left hand and right leg, he continued his command until help arrived, secured a helicopter landing site and ensured that injured colleagues received first aid. He was awarded the Military Cross for his efforts.

Capt Ali, who served with the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, has spent two weeks pulling sleds and hiking in freezing temperatures in Iceland as part of a training and selection program for the UK team in preparation for the South Pole later this year. In a blog post last week,

Capt Ali said: “It’s been a week now we’ve spent in Iceland, and it’s been one Hell of a week as well. “We have had a great time. It’s been a steep learning curve but the tempo is starting to get higher now, and it’s all coming together slowly but surely. Hopefully it should remain positive and the team dynamics will remain good.”

Prince Harry has been involved with Walking WithThe Wounded over the past two expeditions including The North Pole in 2011, and Mount Everest last year, but the South Pole expedition, which will depart in November, is the organisation’s largest challenge to date.

For more information on the challenge, or to sponsor the team, go to facebook.com/walkingwiththewounded or walkingwiththewounded.org.uk