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Crawley adventurer is first deaf man to reach South Pole
AN ADVENTURER has become the first deaf man to walk to the South Pole.
Ian Berry, from Maidenbower, dragged a sled across 112 miles of ice to raise more than £30,000 for the National Deaf Children's Society.
The 43-year-old says he was exhausted but elated when he reached the pole on New Year's Eve.
Speaking on his return to the UK, he said: "We were quite exhausted but we sang Auld Lang Syne in the tent and shared a little half bottle of champagne we had brought with us.
"We reached the pole a couple of days earlier than expected so we arrived on New Year's Eve in UK time.
"The pole actually runs on New Zealand time, which is 16 hours ahead, so for them it was already New Year's Day."
The five-strong team, including one professional guide, met staff at an American research base at the pole – although they still had to sleep in a tent.
Mr Berry added: "They were friendly but they can't just let people in to get out of the cold."
Despite struggling with Antarctica's high altitude and temperatures often lower than -40°C, Mr Berry says the team was determined to complete the challenge.
He said: "I was hopeful all the way that we could make it although some other members of the team struggled, particularly with the altitude.
"You can't really train for it or prepare for it. Those who found it most difficult achieved the most because they showed lots of determination.
"Because of the cold, my hearing aid batteries didn't last very long so I would often miss out on what my team mates were saying."
The team used subtle landmarks like "slightly different coloured patches of snow" to help plot a course through the vast, lifeless ice plains.
Mr Berry, of Bolton Road, said: "You feel so small there. It undulates so you feel yourself going up or down a hill but it's not really noticeable to the eye.
"It's summer so the sun never goes down which is quite disorientating and it made it hard to switch off and get to sleep, even though we were so tired."
After reaching the pole team members, who had checked in each day using a satellite phone, were collected by a plane to begin the journey back to the UK, via Chile.
Mr Berry said: "I had longed for a bacon sandwich which I managed to get when we got back to Chile."
You can still make a donation to Mr Berry's charity appeal at Ian Berry is fundraising for The National Deaf Children's Society - JustGiving
AN ADVENTURER has become the first deaf man to walk to the South Pole.
Ian Berry, from Maidenbower, dragged a sled across 112 miles of ice to raise more than £30,000 for the National Deaf Children's Society.
The 43-year-old says he was exhausted but elated when he reached the pole on New Year's Eve.
Speaking on his return to the UK, he said: "We were quite exhausted but we sang Auld Lang Syne in the tent and shared a little half bottle of champagne we had brought with us.
"We reached the pole a couple of days earlier than expected so we arrived on New Year's Eve in UK time.
"The pole actually runs on New Zealand time, which is 16 hours ahead, so for them it was already New Year's Day."
The five-strong team, including one professional guide, met staff at an American research base at the pole – although they still had to sleep in a tent.
Mr Berry added: "They were friendly but they can't just let people in to get out of the cold."
Despite struggling with Antarctica's high altitude and temperatures often lower than -40°C, Mr Berry says the team was determined to complete the challenge.
He said: "I was hopeful all the way that we could make it although some other members of the team struggled, particularly with the altitude.
"You can't really train for it or prepare for it. Those who found it most difficult achieved the most because they showed lots of determination.
"Because of the cold, my hearing aid batteries didn't last very long so I would often miss out on what my team mates were saying."
The team used subtle landmarks like "slightly different coloured patches of snow" to help plot a course through the vast, lifeless ice plains.
Mr Berry, of Bolton Road, said: "You feel so small there. It undulates so you feel yourself going up or down a hill but it's not really noticeable to the eye.
"It's summer so the sun never goes down which is quite disorientating and it made it hard to switch off and get to sleep, even though we were so tired."
After reaching the pole team members, who had checked in each day using a satellite phone, were collected by a plane to begin the journey back to the UK, via Chile.
Mr Berry said: "I had longed for a bacon sandwich which I managed to get when we got back to Chile."
You can still make a donation to Mr Berry's charity appeal at Ian Berry is fundraising for The National Deaf Children's Society - JustGiving