A London-based explorer has made it into the record books after completing the same South Pole trek which Captain Scott died on just over 100 years ago.
Ben Saunders, 36, from Battersea and his expedition partner Tarka L'Herpiniere, 32, travelled just under 1800miles to and from the Pole whilst pulling 200kg of kit - breaking the record for the longest man-haul polar journey in history.
They finished the incredible mission in the early hours of this morning after about three months on the ice.
The pair, who endured freezing temperatures and walked an average of 17 miles each day, have become the first people to overcome the challenge in a century.
Explorer Captain Robert Scott attempted the same expedition in 1912 but was beaten to the South Pole by a Norweigan team and died along with his colleagues on the return journey.
Speaking today, Mr Saunders said: "I am extraordinary relieved to have taken off my skis for the last time to be able to sit down and rest.
South Pole trek
"Although it is still sinking in, we are both over the moon to have completed our expedition and in turn Captain Scott’s journey.”
He continued: "It is almost impossible to comprehend what we have achieved. This expedition has been a life-long dream.
"[It] has been a mammoth undertaking that has tested the bounds of our bodies and minds each and every day.
"At times we found ourselves in dire straits in the intense cold, wind and altitude of the high plateau, weakened by half-rations and closer to the brink of survival than I had ever anticipated this journey taking us.
"In that light, both Tarka and I feel a combination of awe and profound respect for the endurance, tenacity and fortitude of Captain Scott and his team, a century ago."
Twitter users, including Virgin boss Richard Branson, congratulated the explorers on their impressive achievement today.
Branson wrote: "Congratulations to the @scottexpedition team on a truly remarkable feat, almost as difficult today as it was in 1912."
Watch a clip from the expedition below.
