Latest news with #MitchHutchcraft
The National
2 days ago
- The National
How one man and his dog completed epic Everest trek by land, sea and bicycle
A former British soldier who swam, biked and trekked from the UK to Mount Everest said the challenge was life-changing, and that he now hopes to launch a career as a motivational speaker in Dubai. Mitch Hutchcraft completed the 13,000km journey on May 11 after 240 days of adventure. He was accompanied part of the way by his dog Buddy, who joined him in France and travelled with him, towed behind his bike in a trailer, for 2,000km, to Budapest. He has now recovered from the ultra-endurance challenge and hopes to inspire business leaders and charitable fundraisers to pursue their own dreams and goals. 'I left the Royal Marines in 2021, and then instantly got roped into rowing across the Atlantic – that's where I had the idea for this trip,' he told The National. 'I always wanted to climb Everest from sea level, to go from zero to the top of the world is something I always wanted to do. I had always wanted to swim the Channel as well, so it's been a big dream.' The route led him through the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Kuwait – where a kind-hearted friend provided a vehicle from which a film crew could record his exploits. 'I remember having like a lightbulb moment while I was rowing across the Atlantic, thinking, if I just link the middle bit, it becomes a triathlon, as I've always wanted to cycle across the world too,' he said. 'I thought if I swim the Channel, then I can cycle across the world, two continents, 18 countries, all the way to India, and then I can run and hike 1,200km from India to Everest, and then if I try and climb it I could achieve my dream.' Mr Hutchcraft set off from Dover on September 14 to undertake the first leg of his trip, a 34km open-water sea swim across the English Channel. Gulf leg On arrival at the beaches of northern France a few hours later, he allowed himself time to refuel and rest before jumping on his bike to begin a gruelling cycle from France to India, which took in the UAE. 'I cycled through the entire Middle East – Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi, UAE, Oman – and spent time in Dubai,' he said. 'I've got a really strong connection with the Middle East and the UAE. 'My friend from Kuwait gave me his truck for the entire way for the TV crew from the Kuwait-Iraq border all the way to Oman, so we had it through Saudi all the way through to the UAE.' When that 11,929km leg was done and dusted, it was time to run the 900km journey from India to Nepal, and the foothills of the Himalayas. That leg alone would have tested many, but then it was time for a 365km trek towards Everest base camp, which he reached on April 16. After a few weeks of acclimatisation he began his climb to the summit towards the world's highest peak, reaching the 8,849m summit at around 7.20am local time on Sunday, May 11. The 32-year-old joined the military after the death of his father 13 years ago, and was inspired to take on the longest climb to Everest in history to raise money for his military colleagues. Motivation and inspiration for others Mr Hutchcraft hopes to raise more than Dh2.5 million for SavSim, a UK wildlife conservation charity that uses animals to support military veterans with their mental health. 'I was doing this because of the love for adventure and always wanting to push myself further,' said Mr Hutchcraft. 'My dad died when I was 19, so making him proud, and making my family proud, has always been a big one for me. 'I've had so many positive messages from people, and it's become an opportunity to prove that you haven't got to be superman or superwoman to achieve your wildest dreams. I'm a very bad cyclist, I'm a very bad runner. I've had two knee surgeries. 'I wasn't even meant to be able to join the Royal Marines, which I was in for six years, so it's proof that these challenges are 99 per cent mindset. The only person that knows the definition of possible is yourself. And if you believe anything is possible you can do anything.'
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Former Royal Marine completes ‘world's longest triathlon' at Everest summit
A former Royal Marine has completed the 'world's longest triathlon', which he started in the UK and finished at the summit of Mount Everest. Mitch Hutchcraft, 32, from Cambridgeshire, travelled more than 8,000 miles in 240 days by swimming, cycling, running and trekking before reaching the world's highest peak on Sunday. After setting off from Dover on September 14 last year, Mr Hutchcraft swam 34km across the English Channel, cycled 11,929km from France to India, ran 900km from India to Kathmandu in Nepal and then trekked 365km to Everest base camp. He reached the summit of the 8,849-metre mountain at 7.20am Nepalese time on Sunday. 'It's been a dream of mine since I was eight years old to climb Everest, ever since I saw it in a book,' said Mr Hutchcraft. 'Never in a million years did I think this would be how I'd get here. 'Years of preparation, eight long months of physical endurance, swimming across the Channel… the hardest day of my life, cycling across 19 countries, running 900km, and following in the footsteps of the first ever climb of Everest to reach base camp. 'It's been one hell of a journey.' He thanked his guide Gelje Sherpa, a renowned Nepalese climber, and the production team who have been documenting his adventure, called Project Limitless. Mr Hutchcraft joined the Royal Marines aged 21, after his father died, and served for six years – leaving in 2021. He said his time with the forces helped mould the 'unbreakable mindset' and resilience he has today. Other challenges he has taken on since leaving the Marines include rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean and a 5,000km self-supported cycle across America. He aims to raise £500,000 for SavSim, a London-based wildlife conservation charity which uses animals and nature to provide mental health support to military veterans. Mr Hutchcraft started his challenge by swimming the English Channel from Dover, which he said was the 'hardest day' of his life. 'I barely made it… the weather got really bad and the last five hours of the swim was just trying not to drown, basically,' he said. 'That's how hard it was, when I got to the other side I just literally got to my knees and I had nothing left.' He then cycled from France to Turkey, joined by his three-year-old golden retriever Buddy, who alternated between running alongside him and being pulled in a cycling carrier, which added 32kg to Mr Hutchcraft's bike. Buddy was taken home to be reunited with Mr Hutchcraft's mother when they arrived in Bulgaria. He has faced many challenges during his journey, including being knocked off his bike by a taxi, chased by wild dogs and being held at gunpoint in Serbia. 'I hope I can inspire people to just get out there and push themselves,' Mr Hutchcraft said. 'Never compare yourself to anyone. 'One person's 5k walk is the next person's ultramarathon and I'm just doing this because this is my thing, my combination of dreams, and I want to inspire everyone to do their own thing.' Mr Hutchcraft has been documenting his journey on his Instagram @_mitchhutch.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-marine climbs Everest after 'record-breaking' triathlon
A former Royal Marine has reached the summit of Mount Everest after swimming, cycling and running more than 8,000 Hutchcraft started by swimming the English Channel on 15 September and the 240-day challenge concluded when he topped the world's highest mountain on Sunday at 07:30 team said it was the world's longest ever ascent of Everest from sea to 31-year-old, from Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, said the achievement was "more magical than I could have ever dreamed". "Although I lost my dad 11 years ago, he was with me every step of the way," said Hutchcraft, speaking to his team over the phone after summiting."It's been tough. Really tough. The most difficult thing I've ever done."But I couldn't be happier and more proud of finishing this epic adventure." After swimming the 35km width (21 miles) of the Channel from Dover, Hutchcraft cycled about 12,000 km (7,456 miles) from Europe to Digha in then ran 900km (559 miles) to Kathmandu in Nepal, before starting his 360km (223-mile) trek to Everest said he had dreamed of completing the climb since he was eight years old."Never in a million years did I think this would be how I'd get here," he said."I just want it to inspire others to believe that whatever they're dreaming, however small, they just need to get out there and smash it." Hutchcraft, who has had a full knee reconstruction, was once told the surgery would make it impossible to even join the military, let alone complete a challenge of this has been raising money for SAVSIM, a wildlife conservation organisation, dedicated to providing mental health support to veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and similar said: "For me this is so much more than just a dream to make history, it is also the chance to raise funds and awareness for an amazing non-profit organisation very close to my heart and give back to veteran mental health and wildlife conservation."His father died suddenly when he was 20, which became a driving force in his decision to join the Royal served six years until challenge, named Project Limitless, is being filmed by a production team and is due to officially end when he returns to basecamp - which he was due to do by Monday morning. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Former Royal Marine from 'the flattest part of the UK' completes the world's longest triathlon and scales Mount Everest - eight months after leaving Dover
An ex-Royal Marine has scaled Mount Everest in his bid to complete the world's longest triathlon - eight months after he set off from Dover. Mitch Hutchcraft also swam the Channel and cycled 12,000km from France to India where he then ran Kathmandu, all before taking on the tallest mountain on Earth. In an extraordinary feat of human perseverance, the 31-year-old reached the 8,849m peak of the Himalayan mountain in the early hours of Sunday morning. The adventurer - who has rowed across the Atlantic and cycled through America as training for the 'defining trip of my life' - has been pushing himself to the extreme in order to raise money for a mental health charity dedicated to veterans. 'Since September the 15th, I have swam 35km across the English channel, cycled 11,921km through 19 countries to sea-level in India, ran 875km to Kathmandu, trekked 360km to Everest Base Camp, and climbed to the highest point on earth,' he said. 'Words can't even begin to describe how I feel right now. 'To fulfill a dream I've had since the age of 8, in such an amazing way, is beyond belief.' He added that 'it's been tough. Really tough. The most difficult thing I've ever done. But I couldn't be happier and more proud of finishing this epic adventure'. 'It was more magical than I could have ever dreamed it would be'. Mr Hutchcraft lost his father 11 years ago but the former solider said 'he was with me every step of the way'. After moving to Australia at 20, he quickly came home after a 'heartbreaking phone call' that his father was unwell and passed away within weeks. 'This left a hole in my heart that's hard to describe,' Mr Hutchcraft said, 'he will forever remain my greatest inspiration and motivation'. The veteran held up a flag with the faces of his loved ones who were no longer alive with the words 'we miss you' beneath as he sat on top of the world. Mr Hutchcraft and his climbing team are said to be healthy and are expected to descend to base camp by Monday, when his challenge - dubbed Project Limitless - will officially end. The intrepid explorer was followed by a small team of cameramen, documenting each step along his journey. Molly McDonald, the producer on the project and founder of Blue Door Productions, said she knew it was a 'big risk' to take on the expedition without funding or a social following 'but we saw a real magic in who Mitch is and the message he wanted to share'. The already challenging task threw up several obstacles along the way that Mr Hutchcraft was forced to overcome. His cycling journey was extended after he was forced to take a detour through Iran after he was denied a visa with additional delay when trying to cross Iraq due to a military lockdown. On top of that, he was held at gunpoint in Serba, chased by wild dogs and hit by a taxi while on his bike throughout his trek on the 'longest climb of Everest in history'. Although he would hardly call him an obstacle, Mr Hutchcraft was joined by his three-year-old golden retriever, Buddy, for a stretch from France to Turkey, who he would have to pull in a cycle carrier. This would add 32kg to his bike if his furry friend was not running beside him. In the end, it was crossing the Channel that turned out to be the 'hardest day of my life'. While also being one of the youngest people to scale Kilamanjaro solo at 16, Mr Hutchcraft said his 'fascination' for mountains was 'no doubt fuelled' by his youth spent 'growing up in Cambridgeshire and the flattest part of the UK'. 'My obsession with Everest stretches back as long as I can remember, since reading the tales of Mallory and Irvine at the age of 10 and Brian Blessed's "Galahad of Everest",' he added. The ex-Marine thanked his guide, Gelje Sherpa, for leading the way to the roof of the world. Gelje is said to have rescued a climber from an 'almost impossible' position in the death zone of Everest two years ago. Mr Hutchcraft joined the Marines in 2015, where he stayed for six years despite being previously told that a full knee reconstruction would hold him back from the physical lifestyle he desired. With a taste for the unconventional, Mr Hutchraft said '"sounds fun" was the immediate response' he gave after a pal invited him to spend 7 weeks rowing 12 hours a day across the Atlantic. He said it 'gave him time to contemplate the limitless feats of what is possible' and begin scheming what he would take on next. He then cycled 5,000km through America unsupported 'as a training mission for what would become the defining trip of my life'. 'I am on a mission to further prove that with hard work and self-belief, we truly are limitless,' he explained. The charity he is supporting, SAVSIM, offers mental health support to soldiers in transitionary periods by using animals and nature as therapy. The non-profit also supports wildlife conservation and has anti-poaching programmes across the world. 'I just want it to inspire others to believe that whatever they're dreaming, however small, they just need to get out there and smash it.'
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ex-Royal Marine completes world's longest triathlon by scaling Everest
A former Royal Marine has climbed to the summit of Mount Everest to complete the world's longest triathlon. During Mitch Hutchcraft's mammoth expedition, he swam the Channel, cycled through Europe and Asia and trekked across the Himalayas. The 31-year-old reached the summit of the highest mountain on Earth on Sunday at 7.30am Nepalese time (2.30am BST), eight months after setting off from Dover. Speaking afterwards, he said: 'It was more magical than I could have ever dreamed it would be. 'Although I lost my dad 11 years ago, he was with me every step of the way. 'It's been tough. Really tough. The most difficult thing I've ever done. But I couldn't be happier and more proud of finishing this epic adventure.' He paid tribute to his father, father-in-law and other friends and family by unfurling a flag with the message reading 'We miss you', alongside pictures of those who had inspired him. 'It's been a dream of mine since I was eight years old to climb Everest, ever since I saw it in a book,' he added. 'Never in a million years did I think this would be how I'd get here. 'Years of preparation, eight long months of physical endurance, swimming across the Channel, cycling across 19 countries, running 900km [560 miles], and following in the footsteps of the first ever climb of Everest to reach base camp. It's been one hell of a journey.' Mr Hutchcraft and his climbing team are healthy and expected back at base camp on Monday. Molly McDonald, the founder and producer of Blue Door Productions, which has been following and documenting the adventure, said: 'It's been a long road since Mitch first pitched his dream to us. 'As a small team, without funding or a social following to support the expedition, we knew it was a big risk, but we saw a real magic in who Mitch is and the message he wanted to share. 'Thanks to the incredible support of amazing partners – and a massive online community – that distant dream has become a reality. I'm incredibly proud of this adventure, though for Blue Door, the finish line is not the summit, but when we get our team back home safely.' In what was dubbed Project Limitless, Mr Hutchcraft swam 21 miles across the Channel, cycled nearly 7,500 miles through Europe and Asia to Digha in India and ran 560 miles to Kathmandu, Nepal. He was forced to take a detour through Iran after being denied a visa and was further delayed by a military lockdown in Iraq. At the age of 20, Mr Hutchcraft faced the sudden loss of his father, which became the driving force behind his decision to follow his dream of joining the Marines. He had previously been told a full knee reconstruction would make it impossible to join the military, let alone complete a challenge of this magnitude, but he served for six years before leaving in 2021 to pursue new challenges. Mr Hutchcraft has spent the past few years rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, cycling across North America and climbing some of the most challenging mountains in the world before the dream for Project Limitless was born. He said the swim across the Channel was the 'hardest day of my life'. The former Marine has also been raising money for SAVSIM, a non-profit organisation that supports wildlife conservation. 'This has been the most painful, but fulfilling, adventure,' he added. 'I just want it to inspire others to believe that whatever they're dreaming, however small, they just need to get out there and smash it.' His challenge will officially end when he arrives back at base camp. Everest was first conquered by Edmund Hillary, the New Zealander mountaineer and explorer, in 1953. Since then, thousands have tried to scale the mountain, as well as other Himalayan peaks.
