Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

Amputee’s Peru experience

Special correspondent When Philip Doole lost his legs below the knees last November, he had already agreed to go on a climbing expedition to South America, and he did not back out, he said yesterday. He and Mark Inglis had parts of their legs amputated after suffering severe frostbite on Mount Cook, but Mr Doole could still stand and walk. He had two artificial limbs made of fibreglass and, fully dressed, the only indication of something wrong was his limp. So in May, as planned, he left for Peru with an Otago climbing team. Now back in Wellington, he talked of sharing liquor with local people, going to discos in Huarez, and drinking beer with ambassadors while watching a video at the New Zealand Embassy in Lima of the Lions v. All Blacks match. He said that although his legs slowed him down, they did not stop him. He walked the' Inca Road with his backpack; he trekked through snow using ski poles to keep his balance; when the others went climbing he stayed in camp, lay in the sun, and had a quiet time, he said. Sometimes, he said, his legs even proved useful. “In Peru we had to bargain with a mule driver. We were sitting in this village by the .road. He wanted to know why we wanted horses, so I took off my leg and showed him.” , , ' Other times they made

him angry, got him a little down. “I’d have to stop and give

my legs a break. I’d take them off and over there, well, people just seem to

stand and stare, so I was a bit uncomfortable.” But most of the time he said people were understanding, even impressed. “They were encouraging,” he said and then laughed. “Especially the Yanks, which I didn’t expect.” The trip made him realise his capabilities although lately, he said, things had not been so good. He said that when he lost his legs, “It wasn’t a shock. If you are in a car accident and you lose them at night you wake up in the morning and that is it. But for us we could see it develop. We knew what frostbite could do. “Adjusting wasn’t too difficult because the doctors were confident we would be able to walk again. “Then in the next months and on the trip he was a novelty, something new. “Up till now it has been all learning and exploring, but that wears off. After a year or so you get really down. You realise all those things you can’t do, are not going to do.” He reached down to touch his leg. “I can’t jump,” he said. “I can’t play basketball. That is something that suddenly dawns on you.” Mr Doole is now looking for a job surveying. After mountaineering' since he was 16 he said he would certainly try climbing again, but it would take a lot of effort. If he was going to make the struggle worth it he would also have to make the goals worth it, he said. I Illi !!■ ■if l I

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830824.2.7

Bibliographic details

Press, 24 August 1983, Page 1

Word Count
518

Amputee’s Peru experience Press, 24 August 1983, Page 1

Amputee’s Peru experience Press, 24 August 1983, Page 1

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert