Maritime Reservist Leading Diver Ginge Fullen has climbed the highest point of the British Indian Ocean Territory – his 11th BOT peak.
Ginge, who aims to climb most countries’ highest points, is also trying to be the first person to climb the highest mountain in all 14 British Overseas Territories.
“This is a unique challenge that covers the globe,” said Ginge. “I had been trying for years, decades even, to visit these remote islands in the Indian Ocean.”
Ginge, who spent 20 years in the regulars as a clearance diver, spent five days on the island to find the (low) high point – and the best contender was the first hole on the nine-hole golf course.
“Rumour has it that one or two old excavators were buried here back in the 1970s so that would make the high point man made and not meet the Guinness Book of Record rules so I climbed another point, which was just a few metres high.”
Ginge holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest climbs of every peak in Europe and Africa. He has climbed the highest points in 168 countries.
He was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1988 for saving lives during the MS Herald of Free Enterprise ferry disaster while serving in the Royal Navy.
Next on Ginge’s list are: Tristan Da Cunha, South Georgia and Mount Hope in Antarctica.
