Veteran expat soldier walks from Muscat to Dubai to help ex Samui resident Stu Kyffin

Brit Christopher Pook has so far raised Dhs22,620 towards medical expenses for his friend, Stuart Kyffin, who was hurt in an accident last year. Kyffin was injured in a motorbike smash in Koh Samui in October, and remains in a coma. (full story here)

“He’s breathing unaided now, but I’m not sure how long it will take for a full recovery,” Pook said. Kyffin is also a veteran soldier, having served 20 years in the British armed forces and 10 years in the Special Air Service (SAS).

Speaking about his long trek on foot, Pook said he felt like giving up every day because the pain was “excruciating”.

“One day I took my shoes and socks off and had a pep talk with my feet. It’s a British tradition – you just get up and do it.

“I slept every night for four to five hours and walked for the rest of the time. I mostly just slept on the side of the mountains,” Pook said.

He flew to Muscat from the UK, walked southwest towards Nizwa and climbed the 3,000m Jebel Shams peak in Oman. He then walked to Al Ain and finished at Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai.

“The sand was a nightmare. I thought after two weeks my feet would harden, but they didn’t. I’ve had a lot of pain,” he said.

“I chose Oman because the SAS fought a campaign there in the Dhofar war. And I climbed Jebel Shams because Stu and I did climbing together in the Alps and loved the experience.”

Kyffin’s family has already raised one hundred thousand pounds to take him back to the UK. (full story here)Pook is raising more money for Kyffin’s future medical needs.

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