Man climbs Kilimanjaro with fridge on back

Michael Copeland has carried a fridge on his back to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

A former soldier has conquered Africa's highest mountain whilst carrying a fridge on his back.

Michael Copeland from Stafford has previously climbed Snowdon and completed the Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours while carrying a fridge.

His trek up Kilimanjaro was both to raise awareness of mental ill health and to raise money for charity Mind.

Mr Copeland said the fridge represented the burden of mental health difficulties many people carried.

“My message is you’re not weak if you speak up about mental health,” he said.

He said he chose Kilimanjaro as it was one of the highest mountains which could be climbed without ropes or other equipment.

Mr Copeland became a bodybuilder when he left the Army, and said he had been taking on physical challenges since the age of 15 as a way of dealing with his own mental health challenges.

The former soldier compares carrying the fridge to the burden of carrying mental health issues

“That competitive spirit - from the Army - has never left me,” he said.

He added: “I’ve been the fridge man for two years, but I’ve always used physical challenges to overcome my own insecurities.

“When I get in nature and when I exercise it makes me feel good.”

He said his plan now was to relax and recoup from his latest challenge – but he did not rule out there being another one in the future.

“I’ve challenged myself since I was 15 years old, so I feel like it’s a part of my personality.”