A private disability rights organization has acknowledged Goan Tinkesh Kaushik, 30, as the first triple amputee in history to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp. The camp is located at 17,598 feet above sea level and has a temperature of -15 degrees Celsius. On May 11, Kaushik successfully finished the difficult trek to the Everest Base Camp.

Kaushik claimed that his mental toughness allowed him to accomplish the accomplishment despite his physical limitations. When the man was just nine years old, an electrocution accident in Haryana caused him to lose both of his legs below the knees and one hand. He moved to Goa a few years ago and now wears prosthetic limbs despite this setback. Since then, he has worked as a fitness coach. At a press conference in Panaji on Wednesday, Avelino D'Souza, the chairman of the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG), informed reporters that Kaushik's accomplishments had made Goa proud.

Tinkesh Kaushik
Source: Deccan Herald

Addressing the occasion, Kaushik stated that although he is a fitness coach, he initially believed the trek would be simple, but as he began to prepare, he became aware of the difficulties. while trekking, he had 6 kilograms backpack with him and despite this heavyweight, he trekked around 9-10 km each day. “I did not have any prior experience in mountaineering. I prepared for that before going to the base camp. I am a fitness coach by profession and thought it would be an easy trek for me,” he said.

publive-image
Source: Devdiscourse

Because of the depth of his amputation and the prosthetic limbs he uses, Kaushik claimed that his first day of work on the ground was extremely uncomfortable for him. “I found trekking to be challenging. On the second day, I said that I have to do it. It’s a doable trek. In between, my health was bad, I suffered an acute mountain bout (sickness),” he said. Kaushik claimed that his mental toughness allowed him to complete the hike.

Later after completing that task, Kaushik shared a post on his Instagram account: “Today, the 11th of May 2024, I completed the challenge of trekking to Everest Base Camp. As the first Triple Amputee with 90 percent Locomotor disability to have achieved this feat, it was a very emotional moment for me. I did it for myself and I did it for a cause. I thank everyone who supported me, to make this a reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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