TV star Ben Fogle has recently completed an incredible task – reaching the top of one of the highest points on Earth, Mount Everest.
Posting on his Instagram, he shared a triumphant photo of himself with his hand raised in the air, announcing that after a gruelling 4 week-trek, he’d finally completed the jounrey.
Ben wrote, “At 7.30am on the 16th May, after more than five weeks of acclimatising and training on Mount Everest, I finally realised a childhood dream when I successfully summited the 8848m mountain.”
But in an earlier post, the brave presenter shared that there was also an emotional reason behind his challenge. Ben revealed that he was doing the climb in memory of his son, Willem, who was stillborn at eight months.
Ben revealed in the emotional message that he vowed to his son to ‘live my life brightly’ in his memory – despite the loss being something that ‘changed’ his and his wife Marina’s lives forever.
He wrote, “There is one person in particular for whom this journey is dedicated. A little boy called Willem Fogle. He was my little son. Stillborn at 8 months.
“A little boy I never got to know. A little life that never got to live. A breath that was never exhaled. His loss changed our lives and I think about him daily. Losing my little boy made me reevaluate life. Not only do we hold our two beautiful children closer to us but it was a reminder to live life for the now. Don’t waste it.
“Cradling little Willem to say goodbye, I made a promise to him to live my life brightly. To embrace everyday. To always smile. And to be positive and to inspire.”
Ben continued to reveal that he feels his son was his ‘guardian angel’ on his journey up the icy mountain, in a sweet tribute.
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He said, “In some ways I am now living my life for two. Willem is always there. I think he is my guardian angel here. There is one particular star that shines brighter. It draws my attention. It reflects off the snow and ice. I feel so lucky. I will never take life for granted but above all I’ll never be alone #everest2018”.
Bens follower’s were clearly moved by the 44-year-old’s, flocking to the post to praise him as an ‘inspiration’.
One fan wrote, ‘Incredibly moving words. Congratulations to you and the team. You are an inspiration x’. While another said, ‘Such lovely words, such an inspirational man!!’.
A third fan also wrote, ‘Such beautiful words regarding Willem. He will always be with you xx’.
Ben also has two other children with his wife of 12 years Marina Fogle. The couple share daugher Iona, and son Ludovic.