Northampton man who scaled Kilimanjaro backwards raises thousands

Ben Stewart was the first person to climb up and down Kilimanjaro backwards

A personal trainer who became the first person to climb backwards up and down Africa's highest mountain has raised thousands for a charity.

Ben Stewart, 32, from Northampton, reversed to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, and back, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Mr Stewart had already scaled some British mountains backwards.

He raised funds for the charity following his grandfather's death.

A BHF spokeswoman said Mr Stewart had raised more than £4,700 via an online fundraising appeal.

'Heart attack'

She said he had also raised more than £10,000 to cover the cost of the trip and been given kit donations.

Two people, one from South Africa and one from Nepal, have walked backwards up the 5,895m (19,340ft) African mountain - but not down again.

Mr Stewart, whose grandfather died aged 65 in 2010 after a heart attack, had a team to guide him but said he was not worried about falling.

He returned home recently and said the trek was "the hardest thing I have done in my life".

His training included using a special device to help strengthen his neck to cope with long periods of needing to look over his shoulder.