Polar double for disabled man

Michael McGrath completed both polar walks on foot

A British man with a muscle-wasting disease is believed to be the first disabled person to reach both Poles.

Businessman Michael McGrath, 38, who has muscular dystrophy, completed the final 310 metres of his journey to the South Pole on foot, reaching it just before 2400 GMT on Tuesday.

His achievement marks the end of a two-stage £1m fundraising project, pole2pole.

Mr McGrath, from Buntingford, Hertfordshire, reached the North Pole in 2002.

Our aim was to raise awareness and funds for research into muscle disorders by highlighting what people can do, not what they can't Michael McGrath

The team on the South Pole expedition, including former Top of the Pops Pan's People dancer Babs Powell, flew to within five kilometres of the South Pole.

From there Mr McGrath was transported by specially-adapted wheelchair for two days before completing the final stage on foot.

During the expedition, he faced winds of up to 80mph and temperatures as low as -50C.

His achievement comes in spite of severe walking difficulties caused by his loss of muscle bulk and physical strength.

Mr McGrath also had problems keeping his balance and felt the cold more acutely than his able-bodied companions.

Inaugural event

The pole2pole project aims to raise £1m for research and relief from muscle disorders, including muscular dystrophy.

The challenge was the inaugural event of the Muscle Help Foundation, which aims to increase global awareness of muscle disorders and raise funds for neuromuscular research.

Mr McGrath said: "Reaching the South Pole and completing the pole2pole expedition means so much to me - not just from a personal perspective of confronting head-on the challenges presented by my condition.

"Our aim was to raise awareness and funds for research into muscle disorders by highlighting what people can do, not what they can't."