Everest-bound injured troops in good shape

Three of the Walking With The Wounded team were struck by stomach bugs on Saturday, but after yesterday’s walk they were back to full health.

Martin Hewitt, 31, the expedition leader, Captain Francis Atkinson, also 31, and Captain David Wiseman, 29, were all suffering from suspected food poisoning after leaving Kathmandu, and the energy-sapping illness threatened to slow their progress.

Yesterday, however, they made light work of the 7km trek, much of which was uphill.

The team set off from Monjo – 2,835m above sea level – at 8am yesterday (3.15am GMT), and entered the Sagarmartha National Park shortly afterwards.

They strolled along the relatively flat lower parts of Khumbu Valley, using bridges to criss-cross the river which flows from the Khumbu Glacier, near Everest Base Camp.

After around an hour, the trail cuts steeply up the mountain, and continues up until it reaches Namche at 3,440m. The total altitude gained was around 700m, according to expedition guides.

Karl Hinett, a former private in the Staffordshire Regiment, said: “I’m feeling pretty strong. By no means have I been pushing myself, I’ve been trying to take it as easy as I can because I’m sure there are going to be some times on the trip when we just can’t take it easy.”

The 25-year-old, from Tipton, West Midlands, sustained 37 per cent burns to his hands, legs, arms and face after his Warrior tank was hit by a petrol bomb in Basra, Iraq, in 2005.

He then underwent 16 operations over a five-year period.

Mr Hinett said: “There were some nice bits of uphill. We ascended about 650m today, which is nice for the acclimatisation, so we’re just taking our time, and we all got to the end of day two feeling pretty strong.”

The final member of the team is 25-year-old Private Jaco van Gass.