A Stonehaven man who completed a solo trek to the South Pole earlier this month has said he is “absolutely crushed” over the death of fellow Antarctic explorer Henry Worsley.
Luke Robertson, 30, who was the youngest Brit to achieve the feat solo and unsupported called Mr Worsley “an inspiration, a gentleman and a truly wonderful man”.
Mr Worsley, a 55-year-old former army officer from Fulham, died after 71 days of a bid to become the first person to cross the Antarctic unaided.
He was just 30 miles short of completing the record solo crossing when he had to be airlifted off the ice.
After spending two days unable to move from his tent, the married father-of-two pulled out of the charity adventure on Friday.
He was flown to a hospital in Punta Arenas where he had surgery after doctors discovered his abdomen was infected with bacterial peritonitis and he later died from the condition, his family said yesterday.
Mr Worsley was attempting to complete Sir Ernest Shackleton’s unfinished journey to the South Pole.
In a poignant final message on Friday on his website, Mr Worsley explained that he had reached the limits of his physical endurance and his personal summit lay “just out of reach”.
Sounding exhausted, Worsley said: “When my hero Ernest Shackleton stood 97 miles from the South Pole on the morning of January 9 1909 he said he’d shot his bolt.
“Well, today I have to inform you with some sadness that I too have shot my bolt.
“My journey is at an end. I have run out of time, physical endurance and the simple sheer inability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal.
“Many mountaineers battle away and fail to reach the summit. My summit was just out of reach.
“But I spent 70 days all alone in a place I love, covered 900 statute miles, and just missed the final 1% of the goal I set out on.
“No matter. I’ll lick my wounds, they will heal over time and I’ll come to terms with the disappointment.”
He said his spirits would be lifted by the “support and generosity” he had received in recent months in helping him exceed the £100,000 fundraising target he set for the expedition.
“Over the coming days I’ll return to Punta Arenas and I’ll keep you updated on progress daily, if you care to tune in, on my movements and I’ll gather my thoughts in a final message over the coming days.
“This is Henry Worsley, signing off, journey’s end.”
Mr Robertson, a finance worker who has returned to his job in Edinburgh, said he was still recovering from some injuries sustained from his ordeal.
He wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely crushed. Henry Worsley an inspiration, a gentleman and a truly wonderful man.”
The trek was raising money for the Endeavour Fund, a charity which helps wounded servicemen and women and is managed by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
The Duke of Cambridge yesterday said: “Harry and I are very sad to hear of the loss of Henry Worsley. He was a man who showed great courage and determination and we are incredibly proud to be associated with him.”