Torquay ex-Royal Marine completes 'world’s longest triathlon' with Everest summit

A former Royal Marine from Torquay has completed what is being described as the world’s longest triathlon, finishing the challenge at the summit of Mount Everest.

Mitch Hutchcraft, who has lived in Torquay since 2018, travelled more than 13,000km (8,077 miles) over 240 days by swimming, cycling, running and trekking before reaching the world’s highest peak on Sunday, 10 May.

Speaking from a hotel room in Nepal—unshaven, 16kg lighter and recovering from a lost voice—Hutchcraft told the Torbay Weekly he was “relieved and very happy” that the adventure had come to an end.

The 32-year-old began the journey in Dover on 14 September last year. He swam 34km across the English Channel, cycled 11,929km from France to India, ran 900km from India to Kathmandu in Nepal, and trekked 365km to reach Everest base camp on 16 April.

Above: Image: Blue Door Productions / Stan Gaskell

He reached the summit of the 8,849-metre (29,032ft) mountain at 7:20am Nepalese time in what he described as “the longest climb of Everest in history”.

“It doesn’t feel like it's over,” he said. “I just can’t quite process that it’s done. It’s been eight months, 240 days of my life. I’m just worried I’m going to wake up and be still sitting at base camp, having not climbed.

“It was more magical than I could have ever dreamed it would be.”

Hutchcraft thanked his guide, Gelje Sherpa—a renowned Nepalese climber—as well as the production team documenting his journey, titled Project Limitless.

He is due to return home to Torbay in the coming weeks and said he was eager to be reunited with his three-year-old golden retriever, Buddy. Buddy joined him for the early stages of the trip, including the cycling leg from France to Turkey. Buddy alternated between running alongside him and riding in a cycle trailer, which added 32kg to Hutchcraft’s load.

After reaching Hungary, Hutchcraft decided it was too dangerous for Buddy to continue.

Above: Mitch and Buddy. Image: Blue Door Productions / Stan Gaskell

He faced several challenges during the expedition, including being knocked off his bike by a taxi, chased by wild dogs, and held at gunpoint in Serbia.

Before beginning his final ascent, Hutchcraft posted on social media that the climb had been “worth the risks”.

However, the experience was not without its darker moments. Hutchcraft said he had to step over two bodies during his climb to the summit.

“Although it was a mixture of wonder and everything I have ever dreamed of, it was much windier than we expected at the top, and having just had to navigate around two bodies lying there with full kit still on, I did think to myself, ‘I promised my family I would get back.’ It was quite a serious situation to handle at the time.”

He trained for the expedition over four years and came up with the idea while rowing across the Atlantic. Part of his cycling training took place in the United States, while much of his swim training was carried out in Torbay.

Above: Image: Blue Door Productions / Stan Gaskell

In the six months prior to departure, Hutchcraft trained in the sea regularly beside Torbay Sands and around Anstey’s Cove. He was occasionally joined by friend and leisure paddleboarder Sean White, founder of the coastal hub Soak Lifestyle. When swimming indoors, he would train at the Atec Leisure Centre in Torquay.

“The water was a perfect temperature for training,” Hutchcraft said. “I’d say Torquay and Devon are the perfect training ground.”

He joined the Royal Marines aged 21, after his father died, and served for six years before leaving in 2021. Prior to the expedition, he worked as a bodyguard for a billionaire, a role that involved frequent international travel.

He said his military training had “massively” helped him develop the mental resilience required to complete the journey.

“It’s the mindset and message that I’m trying to share with everyone. You haven’t got to be a superhuman or super athlete to achieve your wildest dreams. It’s 99 per cent in your head. I’m a bad cyclist—I’ve had two knee surgeries—but the body is amazing and the mind is strong.”

Above: Image: Blue Door Productions / Stan Gaskell

Hutchcraft credits his father as a key influence, saying he would have encouraged him to complete the challenge had he still been alive.

“He was always the person to tell me to just do it. I think he definitely would have been happy, and proud.”

He is aiming to raise £500,000 for SavSim, a London-based wildlife conservation charity that also provides mental health support to military veterans through nature-based therapy. He has raised more than £15,000 so far.

Television appearances, documentary opportunities and a book are already being discussed for when he returns to the UK.