Jamie puts tragedy behind him to reach for the peaks

AN INSPIRATIONAL amputee whose hands and feet were removed after a climbing tragedy in the Alps 11 years ago is to take on one of Scotland's most gruelling races this weekend.

Jamie Andrew, from Bruntsfield, will lead a unique team of disabled sportsmen on the Scottish Islands Peaks Race.

It is the first time the 40-year-old has attempted the feat since 1998. The following year he lost his hands and feet to frostbite after spending five nights stranded by a storm near the summit of Les Droites in the Mont Blanc mountain range.

His rescue was one of the most dramatic in Alpine history, but came too late to save his friend, Jamie Fisher, who died as temperatures plummeted.

He said he would complete the Scottish Islands Peaks Race in honour of Mr Fisher, with whom he first took part 12 years ago.

"Our aim is to challenge ourselves and to have fun," he said. "But the other aim is to demonstrate that people, whatever their abilities or disabilities, can work together to overcome the obstacles that they face."

The non-stop race, which can take three days to complete, begins at midday tomorrow with a hill run in Oban, in Argyll. Teams – comprising three sailors and two runners – then sail to Mull to run over Ben More before voyaging to Craighouse on Jura, and run the Paps of Jura. After that they will sail to Arran and run Goat Fell, before sailing to the finish in Troon, Ayrshire.

Jamie, who was a runner in 1998, will this year sail the team's 31ft yacht.

He said: "Sailing will present many challenges for me to overcome. It is a very tough environment to work in when you have no hands or feet. It has taken me a long time to get stable and comfortable on my legs to be able to balance.

"Challenges for me are to stand up on the boat, manage the wheel and steer, and pull in ropes and sails.

"I don't wear artificial hands although I have learned over the years, especially through mountaineering, to manage ropes. I have a technique of scooping them up and wrapping them around my arms. The more you do these things the more adept you become.

"It will also be tough in terms of endurance because the sailors do not get any sleep for the whole three days of the race."