Indian woman becomes first female amputee to climb Everest

Woman who lost her leg after being thrown from a moving train two years ago becomes the first female amputee to climb world's highest mountain.

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KATHMANDU // An Indian woman who lost her leg after she was thrown from a moving train two years ago has become the first female amputee to climb Everest.

Arunima Sinha, 26, from Uttar Pradesh, reached the peak on Tuesday morning after a slow climb from Everest Base Camp.

"She left high camp at 6pm on Monday evening and arrived at the summit at 10.55am on Tuesday," Ang Tshering Sherpa, founder of Asian Trekking, the company that organised the expedition, said yesterday.

Ms Sinha's guides were concerned about her slow pace until the team reached an 8,750-metre junction that climbers pass through on their way to the top of the mountain, Mr Sherpa said.

"But once she got to that point, she gained energy and confidence and started moving really quickly."

Two years ago, the former national-level volleyball player was shoved from a moving train by thieves when she reportedly attempted to fight them off as they tried to stealing her purse.

A passing train crushed her left leg, forcing doctors to amputate below the knee to save her life.

"At that time everyone was worried for me. I then realised I had to do something in my life so that people stop looking at me with pity," Ms Sinha said before leaving for the climb.