John Wilton-Davies heads for Antarctica in October

A FORMER Jersey resident is attempting the challenge of a lifetime by trekking to the South Pole and back.

John Wilton-Davies (47) has already trekked to the South Pole once from the Antarctic coast in 2006, but now he wants an even bigger challenge.

John will be heading to Antarctica in October with trekking partner Justin Miles to undertake The Last Great Challenge in just 80 days. The small window needs to be met because of the infrequency of flights to and from the area. The project is even more impressive as Justin taught himself how to walk and talk again after being involved in a car accident in 1998.

John used to live in St Mary but now lives in Exeter, where he runs a financial consultancy. His parents, Colin and Brenda, live in St Helier, his brother Peter lives in St Ouen and his sister Zoe lives in St Lawrence.

John’s trek will cover 1,400 miles and absorb 8,500 calories a day. The pair will have to drag all their equipment and food with them on the journey.

John said: ‘The trip is dangerous, but not as dangerous as many people imagine. The real danger is falling down a crevasse. But the last person to actually die on this voyage was Captain Robert Falcon Scott 97 years ago.’

Captain Scott and his team died on the return journey from the South Pole. One of them died after falling down a crevasse, another had severe frostbite and the rest died in their tent during a blizzard.

John said: ‘This is a major part of my life and has been for the last couple of years. I went on an Antarctica expedition three years ago on my own and it seemed like a good idea at the time. I wanted a big physical challenge before I got too old, and I am looking forward to next year, when we undertake this one.’

The trek will cost £250,000 and to raise sponsorship the duo are running a campaign with the British Heart Foundation to encourage children to exercise.