AN Iraq veteran from Poole is making a second attempt to be the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit the infamous Matterhorn.

Former British Army corporal Neil Heritage had his legs amputated after he was injured by a suicide bomber while on tour in Iraq in 2004.

The 36-year-old is raising money for military charity Blesma, which supports limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants – a cause close to his heart.

The ex-serviceman from Poole was working with a bomb disposal team in Iraq when a suicide bomber drove close to his unit, and detonated his vehicle.

Mr Heritage suffered extensive injuries and both his legs were amputated. After a lengthy rehabilitation, he now walks unaided on prosthetic limbs.

Now he is hoping to reach the summit of the Matterhorn after his first attempt last year was unsuccessful.

“We travel out to Chamonix on August 1 to start altitude acclimatisation and complete final preparations,” he said.

“I want to encourage other people in my situation and the disabled community to go out and achieve their dreams whatever they may be.

“This challenge has played a massive role in my physical and mental rehabilitation it has also given us all a sense of team work and challenge we previously had when serving in the armed services. We hope to push the boundaries of what’s possible with disabilities and show that there is life beyond injury.”

The former solider has completed a 3000-mile row across the Atlantic as part of the six-man Row2Recovery team, all members of which were injured while serving in the British Army.

The team of four will set off on their climb on August 7, and expect to take three or four days, making their way up the Italian side at Lion ridge.

Mr Heritage is estimated to use around seven times the energy of an able-bodied climber, and has specially adapted climbing gear.

To support the challenge and donate to Blesma visit justgiving.com/fundraising/climb2recovery