Stroke Survivor Completes First Week of Antarctic Expedition, Covering 120km

An individual from Devon, who survived a stroke and seeks to be the inaugural disabled person to undertake a solo, unsupported ski journey to the South Pole, has concluded his initial week in the Antarctic. Jonny Huntington, a resident of Kingsbridge, has already traversed 120km (75 miles) as part of his Antarctic journey. The 38-year-old has been skiing for approximately eight-and-a-half hours daily, achieving distances of up to 23km (14 miles). At the age of 28, Mr Huntington experienced a stroke, which resulted in complete left-sided paralysis and lasting brain damage. The former GB para-athlete continues to experience a notable deficiency in strength, mobility, and control on his left side, a condition he stated has been intensified by the frigid environment. He stated, “I have taken a few falls.” He added, “Four in one day is the record, however, it is all about getting back up, brushing yourself down and moving on.” He explained that his left leg “freely rotates” due to minimal to no movement in his left ankle. He elaborated, “So, the problem I have is that if the edge of my ski clips on something in the snow it can cause the foot to rotate and the ski to veer towards my other ski.” He further noted, “Crossing skis is really not what you want and can often cause you to fall over.” As he enters the second week of the expedition, Mr Huntington intends to elevate his daily objective to consistently achieve 24km (15 miles) per day. His expedition serves as a fundraising effort for four charitable organizations: the Invictus Games Foundation, Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team, Team Forces, and The Adaptive Grand Slam Foundation. Readers can follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook, and Instagram, and submit story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external sites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.