IT’S a mammoth challenge only completed by the bravest of hikers.

Towering 19,341ft above Tanzania in Africa, the dormant volcano of Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most dangerous climbs in the world.

Now, undeterred, Hampshire sporting hero Aaron Phipps has become one of the first to complete the gruelling trek to the top and reach the summit in a wheelchair.

The challenge comes after months of preparations by the 33-year-old father-of-two from Totton that saw him make regular cable car journeys to the top of the 15,777ft Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, in a bid to ward off the threat of developing altitude sickness.

Experts say about 70-per-cent of people who climb Kilimanjaro suffer from altitude sickness.

Symptoms include headaches, nausea and exhaustion, followed by swelling of the hands and feet. Climbers can also suffer swelling of the brain tissue, which can prove fatal if not treated immediately.

Daily Echo: Aaron Phipps

Aaron faced the added challenge of trying to propel himself up the mountain in a wheelchair.

As reported in the Daily Echo, he developed meningitis as a teenager, losing both legs and the tips of his fingers, but became a wheelchair rugby star and took part in the 2012 London Paralympics.

Kilimanjaro, affectionately known as ‘Kili’, is one of the few mountains where people can walk to the top.

However, a huge number of those who attempt to scale the peak are forced to drop out because of altitude sickness and other medical issues.

Dr Jeremy Windsor, of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, said: “Strange as it may sound, Kilimanjaro is perhaps one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. Despite reliable weather and straightforward access, illness and injury are commonplace.

“Of the 40,000 visitors Kilimanjaro attracts each year, between 50 and 75 per cent turn back before reaching the summit. The combination of Cold, dehydration and acute mountain sickness seems to be responsible.”

Aaron conquered Kilimanjaro at 10am yesterday using an all-terrain wheelchair known as a Mountain Trike, which is equipped with special levers that aid propulsion. He is raising funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) and ShawTrust, which helps disabled people find work.

A MRF spokesman said: “Even if he’s not the first person to go up Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair, it’s still a huge challenge.”