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Ex-soldier's South Pole trek to inspire young people

Emma StanleyNorth West
Jordan Wylie Jordan Wylie, who has a dark beard with some white in it, stands smiling at the South Pole, next to a marker that looks like a mirrored ball. He has a black coat on with the hood up and is holding a sponsorship flag. In the background are flags and a large flat expanse of ice under a blue skyJordan Wylie
Jordan Wylie says the experience was a "privilege of the highest order"

A former soldier has said he hopes to inspire young people after trekking to the South Pole.

Jordan Wylie, who joined the Army aged 16, said his expedition was to raise funds for the Army Cadet Charitable Trust UK.

The explorer, who is from Blackpool and known for appearing in Channel 4's Hunted programme, trained for nearly a year and spent more than three weeks travelling across the Antarctic wilderness to reach the southernmost point on Earth.

"If standing at the bottom of the world encourages even one young person to dream bigger, push further or believe in themselves when others say they cannot, then every frozen mile has been worth it," he said.

Jordan Wylie Jordan Wylie and another member of the team stand on a large flat expanse of ice under a blue sky at a sign that says "Geographic South Pole". There is an American flag to the left and the men are wearing black and orange coats and masks and have sledges of equipment covered with red tarpaulinsJordan Wylie
The explorer spent more than three weeks travelling across the Antarctic

Mr Wylie skied for days across the deserted, ice-covered continent while towing all of his own equipment and supplies.

He said the journey was "cold, relentless, and brutally honest" with "no shortcuts, no comfort, just forward movement, one step at a time".

But he said the experience was "a privilege of the highest order" and he wanted to "show what's possible when you choose courage over comfort".

He left the Army after more than a decade and and said, looking back, he lost his "sense of purpose" and really struggled to cope with life outside of the military.

Following a mental health breakdown in 2015, Mr Wylie said he decided to "use his spirit of adventure" to motivate the next generation.

He has since joined the cast of Hunted and has undertaken a number of challenges for charity, including climbing Kilimanjaro barefoot and running marathons in the world's coldest places.

Last year, he completed an "eco-triathlon" on a home-made wooden bike and a raft made from plastic bottles.

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