Amputee set to scale France's highest mountain

An amputee from Devon who credits his son's Lego with helping him learn to walk again is in training to climb Western Europe's highest peak.

Chris Linnitt has set his sights on Mont Blanc, the 15,771ft (4,807m) mountain that straddles France, Italy and Switzerland.

The legal executive, who wears a prosthetic limb and admits he is "terrified by heights", said he had been in "intense training" for the feat.

"It's a challenge that not many amputees have done, it's unique, it's full of risk," he said.

"It's about self-development, every step for me is a step forward to that."

'No going back'

The father-of-two, who lives in Teignmouth, said his leg was amputated 18 years ago after a motorbike accident in 2002 left him in severe pain.

He said he had 30 operations on his leg, including bone grafts, after the crash with a Cherokee jeep.

He decided on an elective amputation in 2006 after "exhausting most avenues", with the decision bringing a "big sense of relief".

With an 18-month-old son at the time, he said: "The weirdest thing is when you wake up and it's not there, there's really no going back.

"What helped me learn really quick was Lego - it was like dodgems around those.

"I could only wear my prosthetic for a certain amount of time at first.

"My walking training was him leaving a trail of destruction with Lego and toys - it was the quickest way to rehabilitation."

Mr Linnitt said climbing Mont Blanc was a long-term goal of his.

"When I first lost my leg, there's this thing a bit like post-traumatic recovery, people kind of think they can do amazing things," he said.

"Mine was actually Mont Blanc back then."

He said he was prepared for "pain" as he looks to turn his dream into a reality.

"The family have supported me on this, they've known I've always wanted to do it and I'm raising money for good causes," he said.

His chosen charities are Limb Power, which supports amputees, and Alcohol Change UK.

Mr Linnitt plans to take on the challenge next week after undergoing crampon and ice axe training in France.

He estimated it would likely take him about 24 hours.

"It was my choice to have my leg removed, it's my choice to get up this mountain," he said.