Mark Inglis began his mountaineering career early and worked as a search and rescue climber. In November 1982, he and a fellow climber were trapped in an ice cave for thirteen days. Mark lost part of both of his legs to severe frostbite. He continued to climb, however, and became the first double amputee to summit Mount Everest. He was given the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2003. When Mark is not climbing, he works as a motivational speaker.