Preet Chandi, an Army officer who trekked 700 miles through Antarctica in 40 days, facing temperatures of -50C, is among the first women to complete a solo expedition to the South Pole.

The 32-year-old, from Derby, UK, said she took on the challenge to inspire others to “push boundaries”.

Announcing the completion of her journey on social media, she wrote, “It feels so surreal to finally be here”.

Capt Chandi, a UK Army physiotherapist, who goes under the name “Polar Preet,” spent two years planning and training for the expedition, including pulling a tyre along Derby streets, as well as a 27-day trip to Greenland to expose herself to extreme weather conditions.

While in the Antarctic, Chandi travelled a daily average of 17 miles and used special communications equipment to send audio and photos to her family during her journey.

On finishing, she sent back a message saying, “I made it to the South Pole where it’s snowing.”

“Feeling so many emotions right now. I knew nothing about the polar world three years ago and it feels so surreal to finally be here. It was tough getting here and I want to thank everybody for their support. This expedition was always about so much more than me.”

Chandi has previously spoken about how her challenge was “considered out of the norm for an Asian woman”. “That’s part of the reason why I wanted to do this – for people who don’t fit a certain image,” she said.

The expedition had been expected to take between 45 to 48 days.
“I have been watching Polar Preet’s Antarctic endeavours with admiration and awe, as I have seen her maintain incredible distances and pace every single day of her expedition,” said Brig Lizzie Faithfull-Davies, commander of the 102nd Logistic Brigade.

“I am absolutely delighted to hear she has achieved her ambition of reaching the South Pole and so proud she has demonstrated how much we can all achieve if we set our minds to it.”

Chandi is now the third fastest woman to trek across the continent, and the first person to reach the South Pole on foot in two years.

Joining other well-wishers, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “What an extraordinary achievement. Congratulations Captain Preet Chandi.”