Watch: Inspirational amputee Nikki Bradley conquers the Sturrall
The terrifying Sturrall Ridge, near Glencolmcille, is described as ‘a true monster of a headland’, but Letterkenny adaptive adventurer Nikki Bradley was unbowed by the knife-edge challenge
Inspirational amputee Nikki Bradley conquered the terrifying Sturrall ridge - just over a year after undergoing rotationplasty surgery.
The Letterkenny woman defied the odds alongside Iain Miller of Unique Ascent on Monday when tackling the Sturrall.
The Sturrall, located between Glencolmcille and An Port, is a breathtaking sea cliff described as ‘a true monster of a headland’ by experienced adventurer Miller.
“The Sturrall Headland is one of the most outstanding sea cliff features in Ireland it is a true monster of a headland sitting isolated and far from the real world,” he said.
“It sits equidistant between Glencolmcille Village to the South and the An Port road end to the North. The ridge is approx 800m long and 180m at the highest point.”
The ridge is just two meters wide in places and the knife-edge experience is as dangerous as it is daunting - but not for brave Nikki.
In February 2022, adaptive adventurer and cancer survivor Nikki underwent major surgery in The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham.
The rotationplasty surgery involved removing the middle part of her right leg with the lower leg reattached at the thigh - but rotated 180 degrees. This was prior to Nikki having a prosthetic fitted.
Despite having had two hip replacements, Nikki - who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, when she was 16 years old - has completed some staggering feats in her life.
She abseiled off Fanad Lighthouse and climbed the Sólheimajökull glacier in Iceland.
There was the Fan Dance, a 24km march on the highest peak of Brecon Beacons in Wales. She completed a 4 Peak Challenge that saw her climb Carrantoohil, Croagh Patrick, Slieve Donard and Errigal back-to-back - inside 32 hours.