A YOUNG woman who lost a leg in a life saving operation has enjoyed yet more success as a Team GB climber.
Esme Harte won a bronze medal at the Gijón Lead, Speed and Paraclimbing World Championships in Spain at the weekend.
Great Britain scooped six medals at the event and Miss Harte, from Sedgefield, County Durham, excelled in the paraclimbing competitions.
The achievement is all the greater for the 20-year-old, as four-years-ago she feared she would never climb again.
At the age of 16, Miss Harte had her lower left leg amputated after blood clots caused by previously undiagnosed sticky blood syndrome impaired the flow of blood to her foot.
Losing a limb was a massive shock for the previously active teen who loved to climb.
However, she eventually began to adapt to life with a prosthetic leg and it was not long before she was back in her climbing harness.
In July, an impressive performance at British Mountaineering Paraclimbing Series, secured her a place in the national squad and she has gone on to win gold medals at international contests in Austria and Italy.
“I am over the moon,” said Miss Harte, a climbing instructor at Rock Antics in Newton Aycliffe.
“I was quite nervous in the qualifiers but my confidence grew and by the time I reached the finals I was ready to rock.
“It feels great to compete at this level.”
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