Intrepid explorer's Antarctic success

Keith Young conquered a dangerous Antarctic mission undertaken by Sir Ernest Shackleton.

He took six days as a member of a seven-strong team who sailed 750 miles from the Falklands Islands to South Georgia and then climbed across the island's high mountains and glaciers to complete the Shackleton traverse.

The Beyond Endurance expedition took place amid one of the last wildernesses on earth and scenes of incredible beauty.

He said: "Fewer people have done this than have climbed Mount Everest, so we feel pleased to have succeeded and to be back on board Pelagic.

"But we are also really tired and emotional after finally following in the master's footsteps and experiencing something of his amazing feat of endurance.

"We were extremely lucky with the weather, but still had to contend with a pulk dropped down a crevasse and high winds blowing us off our feet as we detoured for one day to attempt, unsuccessfully, to climb Mt Nicholas for the first time," he added.

Their exploits left the team exhausted and recovering from their endeavours.

Internet executive Mr Young (49), of Hook Lane, completed his mission to raise funds for the Winston's Wish charity which helps bereaved children and their families in Sussex.

He has raised about 2,000 on behalf of Louis Bernon, a close friend with whom he rowed the Irish Sea, who is battling against a brain tumour.

The expedition had been planned for two years.

Mr Young and his fellow team members '“ Ingrid Hall, Lyster Denny, Simon Kewley, Skip Novak, Stephen Tetlow and Stephen Venables '“ trained on the South Downs with heavy backpacks.

They also joined the Army on winter exercises in Norway to practise crevasse rescues and become familiar with living on crevasses.

The Beyond Endurance Exhibition set off on October 16 to recreate the trek undertaken by Shackleton, Frank Worsley and Tom Crean in May, 1916. It took them 36 hours of continuous movement to cover some 40 miles at heights of up to 3,000ft to organise a rescue of their ill-fated ship, the Endurance.

After sailing across the South Atlantic Ocean, Mr Young retraced Shackleton's route from his landing at King Haakon Bay on the south side of South Georgia before the team tackled the mountainous terrain to reach Stromness. Climbing the island's unconquered summits, however, proved beyond them.

Winston's Wish helps children rebuild their lives after the death of a parent or sibling to enable them to face the future with hope.

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