Station Commander conquers world’s highest freestanding mountain with fire kit and BA

Published: 23 September, 2011

Adding a new dimension to a Mt Kilimanjaro climb, Station Commander Martin Lown of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (UK) completed the 5895 metre (AMSL) task in seven days whilst wearing fire kit and breathing apparatus.

Sponsored by Draeger Safety UK and carrying a Draeger PSS 7000 compressed air breathing apparatus, the climb was carried out in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity, supporting sick and injured fire fighters in the UK.

Joined by 22 FRS colleagues and coping with temperatures that ranged from 30 degrees to minus 18, the team trekked through jungle and open alpine mountainside as well as steep rocky ascents to the glaciers. The team reached the summit at sunrise after a final gruelling eight hour climb through the night to Uhuru peak where the temperature had dropped to minus 18 degrees.

Martin Lown commented, ‘The altitude made life difficult during the latter stages, with acute mountain sickness affecting some of the climbers. However, a rapid two-day descent of 4,000m gave our bodies the chance to readjust – as did the well deserved Kilimanjaro beer.’

He added, ‘I would like to thank Draeger for its technical support and generous sponsorship which helped me to raise over £5,500 for this important charity.’

Phil Saxton, Sales and Marketing Director at Draeger Safety, responded “We were delighted to be able to help with this very worthwhile cause which supports injured firefighters and their beneficiaries. We are also particularly proud of the fact that our breathing apparatus is continuing its history of expeditions with climbs to the top of both Mt Kilimanjaro and Snowdon in the last 12 months.

Details of future fundraising trecks in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity can be found on the charity’s website here.

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