AN AMPUTEE from Teignmouth is to tackle Europe’s highest mountain.

Chris Linnitt, from Teignmouth, has been training to scale the 15,771 feet of Mont Blanc.

The legal executive, who specialises in personal injury, says it was his son’s Lego which helped him to walk again after his leg was amputated in 2006. 

Chris, who wears a prosthetic limb, admits he is ‘terrified by heights’.

He said: ‘It’s a challenge not many amputees have done, it’s unique, it’s full of risk.

‘It’s about self-development, every step for me is a step forward to that.’

The father-of-two’s leg was amputated 18 years ago after a motorbike accident in 2002 which left him in severe pain.

He had 30 operations on his leg, including bone grafts, after the crash.

He decided on an elective amputation in 2006 after ‘exhausting most avenues’, with the decision bringing a ‘big sense of relief’.

His son was 18 months old at the time. 

Chris said: ‘The weirdest thing is when you wake up and it’s not there, there’s really no going back.

‘What helped me learn really quick was Lego - it was like dodgems around those.

‘I could only wear my prosthetic for a certain amount of time at first.

‘My walking training was him leaving a trail of destruction with Lego and toys - it was the quickest way to rehabilitation.’

Climbing Mont Blanc was his long-term goal.

He explained: ‘When I first lost my leg, there’s this thing a bit like post-traumatic recovery, people kind of think they can do amazing things.

‘Mine was actually Mont Blanc back then.’

He is prepared for ‘pain’ as he looks to turn his dream into a reality.

He said: ‘The family have supported me, they’ve known I’ve always wanted to do it and I’m raising money for good causes.’

His chosen charities are Limb Power, which supports amputees, and Alcohol Change UK.

He will be climbing next week having undergone crampon and ice axe training in France.

He estimates it could take about 24 hours.

He said: ‘It was my choice to have my leg removed, it's my choice to get up this mountain.’