Walking with Wounded set for Ever-rest

THE Walking With The Wounded team rested yesterday as they prepared to spend the next seven weeks living in tents.

But the primitive lifestyle will not perturb the five injured soldiers aiming to conquer Mount Everest, said their expedition mentor.

Mountaineer and charity representative Henry Chaplin said: “They are all used to sleeping in tents and sorting out their personal admin – it’s second nature.

“They will never fail on that front. On a tour of Afghanistan you are living in pretty rough conditions. They are totally used to this kind of daily routine.”

Former Captain Martin Hewitt, 31, Cpt Francis Atkinson, 31, Cpt David Wiseman, 29, Private Jaco van Gass, 25, and former Pte Karl Hinett, 25, all sustained their injuries fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Chaplin, a former officer in the Royal Green Jackets (RGJ), said the team’s cohesion comes from their shared experiences.

“You won’t ever find on Everest a group who work so well as this team,” said the 49-year-old. “That’s partly the army, and partly being an injured group”