Jamie Andrew’s rescue after five nights trapped by a ferocious storm on Mont Blanc has passed into Alpine legend; his survival was miraculous - but his close friend died in his arms, and Jamie himself lost both his hands and legs to frostbite. His description of that episode is both enthralling and harrowing. The book also describes Jamie’s life since he so nearly died - coming to terms with the death of his friend, and his own disability. Within three months, he had learnt to walk again on prosthetic legs - and since then he has married his long-term girl-friend, Anna, and, astonishingly, both climbed Mont Blanc again and run in the London Marathon. Life and Limb is not only an epic of survival and tragedy in the mountains, but an inspiring story of one man’s absolute determination to continue living life to the full in the face of enormous difficulties.
Jamie Andrew, who lives in Edinburgh, was a leading mountaineer for over a decade before the tragic events of January 1999; since then, he has not only resumed climbing, but also learnt to ski and snowboard again. He regularly gives lectures and speeches to mountaineering clubs and universities on his experiences, and in 2002 was the overall winner of the Lloyds/TSB Sunday Mail Great Scot Award.
Jamie Andrew
Life and Limb