Louis Nethercott and Anthony Lambert in Madagascar
Two former Royal Marines Commandos are celebrating after completing the most brutal challenge yet in their bid to trek unsupported across the five biggest islands in the world.
Desperately short water supplies made Louis Nethercott and Anthony Lambert’s 405-mile (653km) march over the mountains and through the swamps, jungles and deserts of Madagascar particularly risky.
“It may be shorter than the other crossings but it really has been a Commando raid of an island crossing,” said Ant in a video posted to social media via Inmarsat when they reached the west coast.
The men covered up to 25 miles (40km) a day in scorching heat to complete the journey in 18 days. Their essential kit – carried on their backs and on trailers they dragged behind them – included two Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 satellite phones and a compact IsatHub terminal to use with their own smartphones.
Expedition 5 aims to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by military veterans and raise funds for Help for Heroes and The Royal Marines Charity.
With Madagascar, Papua New Guinea and Borneo under their belts, the duo will set their sights on Greenland and Baffin Island next year.
