In 1987, descending from the summit of Kangchenjunga, one of the world's five tallest peaks, Michael Groom suffered crippling frostbite. Eventually, the front of both feet had to be amputated. Advised to abandon climbing and pursue a desk job due to chronic pain, he turned to painkillers and fell into addiction. For two years, he withdrew from life, feeling far from his dream of climbing Mt Everest.
But Michael's resilience prevailed. Ignoring naysayers, he committed to reclaiming his dream. Gradually, he taught himself to walk, then run, and within a year, he was cycling and returning to climbing. Starting with local cliffs in Brisbane, Australia, he progressed back to the Himalayas.
In 1990, he summited Cho Oyu. Despite surviving a harrowing avalanche on Everest's Lhotse face in 1991, Michael returned in 1993 to conquer Everest, followed by K2 in 1994. By 1995, he achieved the remarkable feat of climbing the world's four highest mountains, including Lhotse. His resilience was tested again in 1996 during another Everest disaster, where he rescued a blind fellow climber, Beck Weathers, risking his own life in treacherous conditions.
After Makalu in 1999, Michael became a sought-after keynote speaker, sharing his incredible journey of perseverance.
His autobiography, "Sheer Will," captures his extraordinary story, complemented by breathtaking visuals that reveal the Earth in its purest form.