A BRAVE charity fundraiser has tackled Britain’s highest mountain despite facing the imminent amputation of the lower part of a leg following a freak accident.

Steve Watson, 57, has so far raised almost £1,500 by climbing 2,500ft up Ben Nevis and the money will be split between the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s official charity and the Royal British Legion.

Father-of-two Steve, who lives in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, suffered life-changing injuries when he jumped from a 5ft wall and landed awkwardly.

The Northern Echo: Steve Watson with NHS charity manager Pat Chambers outside University Hospital of North DurhamSteve Watson with NHS charity manager Pat Chambers outside University Hospital of North Durham

His right leg snapped and his ankle “disintegrated”, leading to emergency surgery at the University Hospital of North Durham, and extensive follow-up treatment to try to reconstruct the limb.

However, doctors have warned that the treatment is unlikely to be successful, so Steve has now opted to have a lower-leg amputation early in the New Year.

“It’s obviously a terrible decision to have to take but I’ve had enough of the pain,” said Steve, who works at Greenland Community Primary school, in South Moor, Stanley.

In the meantime, he has defied the odds by attempting to climb Ben Nevis with the aid of a walking stick and reaching the 2,500ft mark. Steve, who has served as a senior non-commissioned officer with the Intelligence Corps, was also supported on the climb by ex-military colleagues, and carried a flag bearing the words: “Lest We Forget".

The Northern Echo: Steve Watson hands over the cheque to Sister Andrea Crampton and the orthopaedics team at the University Hospital of North Durham with the help of his son Bobby, left, and his friend KirkSteve Watson hands over the cheque to Sister Andrea Crampton and the orthopaedics team at the University Hospital of North Durham with the help of his son Bobby, left, and his friend Kirk

He was accompanied on the climb by his nine-year-old son Bobby, along with friend Gareth Todd and his son Kirk. The boys were only thwarted 200 metres from the summit by extreme weather.

“It took me four hours to get that far up the mountain and five hours to get down. I was crying with the pain by the time I finished but I was determined to do it for two amazing charities,” said Steve, who has previously volunteered in refugee camps in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.

“The Poppy Appeal is close to my heart as an ex-military person and I also wanted to give something back to the NHS because the care I’ve had has been fantastic.”

Pat Chambers, manager of the NHS charity, said: “We are totally humbled by the incredible challenge Steve set himself and the courage he has shown.”