JAMIE ANDREW
It’s my hope that my experiences and achievements may inspire others to tackle the obstacles they face in life and to achieve their full potential.
It seems to me that our greatest limitations are the ones we impose on ourselves. I want to encourage others to throw out these misconceptions
and to be all they can be. Remember, nothing is impossible!
Jamie Andrew is an incredible mountaineer from Scotland who lost his hands and feet in a horrific accident in the French Alps.
Miraculously, despite his handicap, Jamie has carried on with his mountaineering career and has made some amazing ascents all over the world, raising many thousands of pounds for charity along the way.
He is a great inspiration and motivational speaker and tells his story with passion, enthusiasm, sincerity and humour and invariably leaves no-one in the audience unaffected.
In July 2001 Jamie left the company for which he was working to
pursue personal projects.
His autobiography, Life and Limb, was published in March 2004 by Portrait to great acclaim.
The book was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize and was the winner of the prestigious Banff Mountain Book Festival Prize for Literature.
Jamie has also written numerous articles about his adventures and experiences, published in The Scotsman, The Observer, Scotland on Sunday, The Sunday Mail and various climbing magazines.
He has given motivational talks to companies, conferences, mountaineering clubs, schools and universities throughout the UK and Europe.
His talks include aspects of attainable goals; problem solving – especially
solving ‘big problems with small solutions’; and developing personal
confidence through achievement.
This is his story in his own
words.......
My great passion in life has always been mountaineering. At the height of my climbing career, tragedy struck unexpectedly when my climbing partner and myself were caught for five days in a terrible storm after completing the North Face of Les Droites in the French Alps.
The ensuing helicopter rescue was one of the most spectacular in the history of the Alps and made news headlines around the world. Unfortunately the rescue came too late for my partner Jamie Fisher but I survived despite severe frostbite and hypothermia. Later in hospital, all of my hands and feet had to be amputated.
Rehabilitation 1999 – 2002
After my accident I made a surprisingly swift recovery, the story of which has been described by many as inspirational. Within three and a half months I had learnt to walk on prosthetic legs and had sufficiently re-learnt
everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and feeding to be able to leave hospital.
Immediately I returned to full time work as a manager for the same rope access company I had worked for before and was soon considered a valuable and fully productive member of the management team. In June 2000 my long term partner, Anna Wyatt and I were married.
Sporting Achievements
Since the accident I have participated in many sporting activities including swimming, running, skiing, snow-boarding, paragliding, caving, orienteering and sailing. But it was returning to mountaineering that was to provide the greatest goal and the biggest challenge.
In June 2000 I climbed Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, raising over £15,000 for charity in the process. A 30 minute documentary, called Climb Back, was made of this ascent, screened on BBC Scotland and featured at the Kendal Mountaineering Film Festival.
I've also returned to active rock climbing and ice climbing. In May 2001 he returned to Chamonix, and with one of his doctors and his rescuers, he climbed the Cosmiques Arete on L’Aiguille du Midi, subject of a 50 minute documentary for French television called Le Defi de Jamie, broadcast on France 3 and winner of several film festival awards.
In April 2002 I ran the London Marathon, raising over £22,000 for charity on the way. I've returned to the Alps several times in 2002 and climbed several mountains including Mont Blanc du Tacul (4200m) and The Monch (4099m). I also made an attempt on Mont Blanc (4800m), Western Europe’s highest mountain, but was forced to turn back just 300m below the summit due to closing bad weather.
In January 2004, with three other disabled mountaineers I made an all-disabled ascent of
Kilimanjaro (5895m), the highest mountain in Africa. The ascent raised over £5,000 for a Tanzanian leprosy centre situated on the slopes of the mountain.
Testimonials
"The more I think about it the more I consider you to be the best, most inspiring lecture we have had throughout the life of the Himalayan Club." John Walton, King's School Himalayan Club.
"Brilliant, and I had lots of positive feedback from other people too. All of whom interested to hear the whole story, beyond just having a notion of what happened. Something to think about, reflect on, gives a different perspective on things we do - everyday or otherwise." Clare Fennel, Edinburgh University Mountaineering Club President.
"We were all deeply moved by your account of what happened and we share your sadness about the death of your climbing companion, Jamie Fisher." Ian D Lindsay, Deputy Rector, Kelvinside Academy.
"Your story is a moving and fascinating one and the impact it had on all present, including myself, was profound. It makes one feel very humble." John L Broadfoot, Rector, Kelvinside Academy.
"Your presence on the day made a great difference to an already special occasion. The feedback that we received was tremendous and everyone enjoyed the afternoon celebrating your achievement. Undoubtedly it was only with your assistance that RADAR was able to generate extensive media coverage." Peter Mansell, Chief Executive, RADAR.
"You encompassed the philosophy of the centre within your speech and your words gave many of our clients much to be reflecting upon." Marlyn Young, West Lothian Ability Centre Manager.
"Thank you most sincerely for your excellent address to our conference plenary last week. Thank you for that inspiration, we are most grateful." Sheelagh Richards, Chief Executive, College of Occupational Therapists.
"Jamie Andrew, mountaineer and quadruple amputee, brings his truly amazing story to life in his inspirational speeches. Delegates at the opening ceremony of the College of Occupational Therapists' annual conference in Glasgow were greatly touched by his sheer courage and determination to get back to a normal life.
Jamie is a speaker who will inspire and move any audience, a truly remarkable achiever and human being." Lynn Houghton, Events and Marketing Assistant, College of Occupational Therapists.
"Jamie is an inspired public speaker who kept all our 330 high school students glued to their chairs for more than one and a half hours. He made our teenagers realize that one does not need to accept any limits, but can keep on growing, regardless of set-backs." Steven Ott, Director Leysin American School.
"Thank you so much for such a powerful and inspiring presentation yesterday. Your account of the horrific experiences you've been through… and the courage and determination you've shown in rebuilding the full and rewarding life you live today was one of the most humbling things I've heard and I believe it gave everyone at the conference true pause for thought.
The feedback we have received so far has been immensely positive and includes the following comments…
'Amazing'
'Inspirational and thought provoking'
'Incredible, courageous and positive'
'An inspiration to us all to live life to the full'
'A stark reminder of the power of positive thinking'" Sasha Peake, Leadership Trust Foundation.
"Now the conference is over I wanted to write to congratulate and thank you for the excellent presentation you gave here at the Leadership Trust yesterday. Everyone was deeply touched by your story and the quiet, positive way in which you delivered your talk. You have been a great inspiration to many, Jamie. Several of our delegates told me that just witnessing your personal resolve in overcoming the challenges and hurdles in your life has made them deepen their own resolve to go out there, take on and face whatever their own personal goals are." Margaret Thomas, Leadership Trust Foundation.
"I am not sure if you appreciate the impact that you make on an audience and as someone in that audience this week you have made me think very hard about me getting more out of myself and giving a bit more of myself." Kevin Doran, Scottish Executive.
"It was an inspiring story, told in a very humble and unassuming way - testament to this was the incredible atmosphere in the hall as you kept the audience mesmerised!" Rob Bushby, John Muir Award.
"Your input was, as ever, pitched at exactly the right level and was relevant for all of the nominees who were in the audience."
"Your visible presence and support continues to inspire others and encourages people with disabilities to take risks and try hard to remain as independent as possible." Marlyn Young, West Lothian Ability Centre Manager.
"I was very pleased by the positive feedback I got from people who attended the festival. For many people - me included - the highlight was your lecture. It was a compelling story of tragedy and triumph, which you presented with great style, dignity and humour. I found it utterly captivating. I hope that you will come and lecture for us again sometime in the future… Many people on the feedback form specifically wrote: 'Jamie 10/10'." Stevie Christie, Director, Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival.
"…a fantastic job on Sunday afternoon - it lived up to all my expectations and the audience were enthralled." Alastair Stewart, Director, Dundee Mountain Film Festival.
"Lecture was brilliant - well received by everyone. Many thanks for your part in making the Festival so successful." Brian Hall, Director, Kendal Mountain Film Festival.
"Your talk helped the members bring a very positive focus to the remainder of the day." John Milligan, Chairman, Welfare to Work Advisory Task Force.
"Thank you very much for your superb contribution to the [conference]. Its content and presentation were excellent." Elaine Noad, Commissioner, Disability Rights Commission
"Your presentation was really powerful and a real highlight of the day. We also got some excellent coverage as a result of your interview with the Newsflash press agency." Carol Stewart, Media Officer, Disability Rights Commission.
"What a wonderful evening! - one to be cherished and long remembered. The drama and emotion of your amazing story, so vividly portrayed by your words and pictures captivated and enthused - you could feel the electric atmosphere among the audience. At question time the many and varied questions just kept flowing. So many people have spoken to me and phoned, praising the lecture. Your courage and achievements are an inspiration to all." Joy Ingram, President, Soroptimist International of Dundee.
"Thank you for your stimulating and inspirational contribution to the Innovation Day…I've had a great response from individuals that participated in your element of the day." Julie Franchetti, Tourism Innovation Manager, Scottish Enterprise.
"Your talk was a real hit." Lesley Phillips, Ledingham Chalmers Solicitors.
"Everyone I've spoken to thoroughly enjoyed your talk and were stunned by your achievements - myself included." Dawn Tyson, Mid Deeside Ltd.
"Many thanks for a very moving, informative and inspiring talk." Nicky Cameron, Association of Orthopaedic Chartered Phisiotherapists.
"Thanks for a superb input as ever. The students are all speaking about how useful and inspiring they found your sessions." Elaine Ballantyne, Queen Margaret University College.
"Thank you for what was a quite outstanding contribution to our conference" Win Wood, Educational Service Manager, Perth & Kinross Council
"The conference evaluations indicated that you were very clearly the star turn - you had 'the X factor' !!" Peter McAvoy, Lead Officer, Educational Service, Perth & Kinross Council
"I've had good feedback coming in about it all day" Rob Naylor, Sevenoaks Playhouse
"Thanks very much for the talk last night. I really enjoyed it and I had some excellent feedback" Matt Heason, Heason Events
"Thank you very much indeed for participating. I have had some excellent feedback about the event relating to the quality of the reading and your openness in the Q&A." Julie Tate, Kendal International Mountain Book Festival
"Thank you so much for visiting the school last week and for your truly inspirational talk, delivered with such modesty and good humour. Your visit has been one of the highlights of the session, very much appreciated by those who attended." Jeremy Hall, Hutchesons' Grammar School
"…thank you for the brilliant and truly amazing story of your life-changing event you shared with me and my friends at Sutton Valence School today. Usually after the talk/ lecture we have every Friday afternoon, we tend to change subject pretty rapidly and forget about what we spent the last hour listening to. However, today that was not so. We were all talking about it afterwards and that alone shows your visit has been the most entertaining (if that's the right word) and inspiring so far and touched me and my friends the most." Neil Churchill, Sixth Form Pupil, Sutton Valence School
"I have heard nothing but good from the pupils; you went down a storm." Emma Mitchell, Head of Media Studies, Sutton Valence School