Titanium Man undertakes iron task

Jamie Andrew and Olivia Giles launched the 500 miles charity

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

Jamie Andrew is attempting to swim more than two miles, cycle 112 miles and run a marathon in 24 hours.

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

It is in aid of the 500 miles charity which he has launched with fellow quadruple amputee Olivia Giles.

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

It started with a dawn dip in Loch Tay, followed by a cycle from Kenmore to Falkirk, and is due to finish with a 26.2 mile run down the Union Canal to Edinburgh.

Project funding

Mr Andrew is aiming to complete the gruelling event on Sunday morning.

He 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.

The Edinburgh-based 500 miles group aims to fund projects to deliver prosthetic services in parts of the world affected by war, poverty or disease.