Ben Fogle paid tribute to his stillborn son as he reached the top of Mount Everest.
The TV survival specialist has been on a five-week expedition to scale the world’s highest mountain and he wanted to make it it to the summit for little Willem, who he and his wife Marina tragically lost in 2014.
Ben admits that as he battled adverse weather conditions and ploughed on through the mountain’s "death zone" Willem had been his "guardian angel" keeping him going on the 29,000 ft climb.
In a touching Instagram post, he wrote: "I gave an assembly to my children’s school today via satellite phone. Nothing has given me as much pleasure so far on this trip than inspiring and exciting 300 young children, particularly my two beautiful children Ludo and Iona. It gives me so much happiness to share this journey with so many others. I don’t feel alone here. Never. There is a spirituality but I can also feel the support and the love here on Instagram … 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. To be positive and to inspire. 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 [sic]"
The ‘Animal Park’ presenter – who held up his kids Ludo and Iona’s toy panda and carrot at the top of the mountain – admits the scaling of Mount Everest is the toughest challenge he has ever embarked on and he now has even more respect for nature.
Ben in particular thanked the Nepalese Sherpas who acted as his guides on the climb and kept him safe.
He wrote in a separated Instagram post: "It has been quite an adventure. Never entirely as expected. We have been stuck in major storms and hit by some technical equipment failure. We were battered by a mighty storm at 8000m which threatened to shred our tent and we have been humbled by Mother Nature … It is almost impossible to surmise what the last five weeks have been like here in the high Himalayas. The Nepalese Sherpas have been one of the highlights. Their eyes twinkle with such beauty. Indeed in many ways it has been their beautiful spirit that has kept my own spirits when they have been battled by physical and mental challenges. I never thought climbing Everest was going to be easy, indeed it has tested me in ways other Expeditions haven’t. Success and Failure have become constant bedfellows… [sic]"
Ben Fogle dedicates Everest climb to late son
