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Prince Harry trains for charity polar trek in freezer | Prince Harry trains for charity polar trek in freezer |
(35 minutes later) | |
Prince Harry has spent a night in a sub-zero Army test facility to acclimatize for a charity polar trek. | Prince Harry has spent a night in a sub-zero Army test facility to acclimatize for a charity polar trek. |
He will join disabled British veterans in a 200-mile race to the South Pole against US and Commonwealth teams. | He will join disabled British veterans in a 200-mile race to the South Pole against US and Commonwealth teams. |
The race is organised by the Walking With The Wounded charity. Harry previously took part in their fund-raising walk to the North Pole in 2011. | The race is organised by the Walking With The Wounded charity. Harry previously took part in their fund-raising walk to the North Pole in 2011. |
When asked how he felt, the prince said it had been a cold night's sleep, and the worst part was "going in". | When asked how he felt, the prince said it had been a cold night's sleep, and the worst part was "going in". |
Harry, along with four colleagues who all lost limbs in Afghanistan, were subjected to ambient temperatures of -35C and wind speeds of 45mph as they spent 20 hours in the sub-zero facility at Nuneaton in Warwickshire, which is more commonly used for testing cars and military vehicles. | |
They simulated the kind of exercise they will have to do during the race by riding bikes and using cross-trainers, before the temperatures were turned down and the wind was turned up. | |
Team member Major Kate Philp, from Knightwick in Worcestershire, who lost a leg on active service, said his Army background made Harry a good team-mate. | |
"He's experienced at this, having spent some time at the North Pole also," she said. | "He's experienced at this, having spent some time at the North Pole also," she said. |
"He knows what he's doing. He's got his military training... so he's a good extra pair of hands." | "He knows what he's doing. He's got his military training... so he's a good extra pair of hands." |
Major Philp, who still serves with 3 UK Division Bulford, Wiltshire, said turning down the temperature had been "pretty cheeky, but it was fantastic training." | Major Philp, who still serves with 3 UK Division Bulford, Wiltshire, said turning down the temperature had been "pretty cheeky, but it was fantastic training." |
'Reality dawning' | |
When asked if the prince was treated just like any other team member, she said: "Oh God, absolutely. We wouldn't let it be any other way and he wouldn't want it to be any other way." | |
The race begins in two months' time, and Major Philp said the training exercise had helped them from a practical point of view, and also as a bonding experience. | |
"It seemed very easy from the beginning, but it's certainly even more comfortable the more time we spend together," she said. | |
"The reality is definitely dawning now, and certainly having experienced what we've just experienced here at Mira [the test facility], it's really put it into sharp focus for us." |
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