After taking on Everest Base Camp, a paraplegic is eyeing Mount Kinabalu next
KAJANG: While most people walk or climb using their legs, this remarkable individual achieves such feats solely through the strength of his arms.
Despite being diagnosed with paraplegia, which causes lower- body paralysis due to spinal cord damage, Azzrulkhan Hasrullah Matsah refused to let his condition dampen his passion for climbing, even if it meant doing so by crawling.
Defying the odds, the Kuching-born 32-year-old made personal history in 2018 by conquering Everest Base Camp, located 5,365m above sea level, using the crawling method during an expedition organised by the Kelab Eksplorasi 7 Benua Malaysia.
Prior to that, Azzrulkhan Hasrullah had already etched his name in the Malaysia Book of Records in 2016 as the first differently-abled individual to conquer Mount Kinabalu by crawling.
“If all goes as planned, I am preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, at the end of next year,” he said, Bernama reported.
Azzrulkhan Hasrullah, affectionately known as Adam, said the challenges he faces when climbing are similar to what regular climbers face.
“If they (regular climbers) feel tired, I feel tired too. The difference is that they use their legs while I use my hands. If they experience fatigue in their legs, I feel it in my hands,” said Adam, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the International Islamic University Malaysia.
“That’s why I need gloves and thick clothing to protect my body, which is always close to the ground due to crawling, to avoid risks like coming into contact with wild plants or sharp objects,” he explained.
Adam, who works in the insurance sector, said his interest in climbing was sparked by the beauty of nature and his desire to challenge his own capabilities.
“To prevent mishaps, I usually research the climbing area in advance, paying particular attention to the trail conditions.
“If it’s too challenging or rocky, I will not proceed,” he said.
Adam shared that his toughest challenge so far was climbing Mount Trusmadi in Tambunan, Sabah, in 2017.
“I suffered from hypothermia and lost consciousness, forcing my team to carry me back to the campsite. At that point, I was only about 600m away from the summit,” he said.
Adam, who also climbed all 2,058 steps of the Kuala Lumpur Tower in 2017, said that being a person with disabilities (PWD) is not the end of life, pointing out that physical limitations should not hinder success.
“Climbing was the starting point for me to lead a more active life.
“Since I began in 2014, I have grown more courageous and participated in various extreme sports, including running, volleyball, archery, swimming, basketball and kayaking.“I’ve also become more confident in myself.
“My goal is to inspire others and prove that PWDs are just like anyone else. What matters is that we have strong determination,” he said.
Adam also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from his wife, Syarifah Syafiqah Syed Nasir, and other family members.
