Test of mettle for 'Titanium Man'

Jamie Andrew has started training for his 'toughest challenge yet'

A quadruple amputee is to compete in an Iron Man triathlon-length event to raise money for charity.

Jamie Andrew will attempt to swim more than two miles, cycle 112 miles and then run a marathon in 24 hours.

The 37-year old from Edinburgh, dubbed "Titanium Man" because of his prosthetic legs, is hoping the stunt will raise £50,000.

The challenge is considered one of the most gruelling feats of athletic endurance for able-bodied athletes.

Mr Andrew lost his hands and feet following a climbing expedition in the French Alps in 1999 in which his friend Jamie Fisher died.

Since then, he has learned to walk again, taken up skiing, run a marathon, returned to climbing and raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Worth a go

His latest venture is in aid of the 500 miles organisation, which he launched last week with fellow quadruple amputee Olivia Giles.

The Edinburgh-based group aims to fund projects to deliver prosthetic services in parts of the world affected by war, poverty or disease.

The Iron Man challenge takes place on 4 August, and starts with a dawn dip in Loch Tay, followed by a cycle from Kenmore to Falkirk, finishing with a 26.2 mile run down the Union Canal to Edinburgh.

Mr Andrew told the BBC Scotland website: "I was really interested in developing a bicycle, I'd already learned to swim and I'd run my first marathon about five years ago.

Jamie Andrew returned to mountaineering after his accident

"It all started to come together and I started to conceive this idea which I thought was crazy at first, but the more and more I thought about it, the more I thought it was just possible, maybe it was worth a go.

"Normally, an iron man triathlon event would take place over about 17 hours.

"I quickly realised in training that I would be struggling to make that sort of limit, so I have given myself the challenge of doing it in 24 hours which gives me a bit of leeway, but still leaves it as a really tough challenge."

The father of three added: "I know I am quite a driven person.

"Partly it's maybe because of the accident I feel that I need to do something quite extreme in order to prove that I haven't been defeated by what happened to me.

"But when it comes down to it, I just really enjoy doing it.

"It really is great to set yourself a challenge that you think may be too difficult or maybe impossible, but then to get there and reach that goal."