Armando Corvini says he’s led two lives – the one he lived when he was young and unstoppable, and the one he lived after his accident.
When Armando was 56, he was lead climber on an expedition to the Himalayas. Although the party were well-prepared, there was heavy snow and they had to overnight on the descent. All came away with frostbite, with Armando the worst off – he lost all his fingers and toes.
After recovering, the lifelong climber began volunteering at his local YMCA in 1997, helping stroke patients with their mobility. After it closed in 2005, he continued working as an instructor for many Canberra schools and colleges.
Armando is now 84 and his business, Guided Outdoor Adventures, offers rock climbing, abseiling and caving exploration to foster confidence in people of all ages. He also holds free indoor rock-climbing lessons for people with disability – enabling them to experience the joy of rock climbing.