\n<\/p>\n
An airport security officer is trekking parts of the Great Wall of China to help him recover after a failed mission in South America.<\/p>\n
East Midlands Airport’s Michael McCorkindale is embarking on the challenge after a mission to the summit of Aconcagua was abandoned <\/a>in March.<\/p>\n He is walking along five different sections of the historic landmark, stopping to repair areas of the wall.<\/p>\n The 36-year-old said the trip will allow him to “rebuild history”.<\/p>\n Known as the airport’s “resident action man”, Mr McCorkindale started climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, during a heatwave in February.<\/p>\n Once on the peak, known as the Mountain of Death, he faced a combination of avalanches, mudslides and a storm.<\/p>\n The former soldier was also injured by a trekker’s crampon, a traction device attached to footwear, as he stopped him slipping.<\/p>\n Mr McCorkindale, from Anstey in Leicestershire, is now setting off to take on his latest challenge, which he said will help him recover mentally from his trip to Argentina.<\/p>\n “Aconcagua was such an extraordinary expedition that I feel like I needed something to do straight away, to be able to mentally get over everything that happened,” he said.<\/p>\n “That’s why I put this expedition on within five days of returning.<\/p>\n “It’s like that old saying, if you fall off a horse get straight back on, otherwise you’ll never get back on it again.”<\/p>\n The extreme adventure enthusiast is flying out to China on Saturday, before meeting a group of strangers who he will partner on the trek.<\/p>\n They will trek for about nine to 12 hours a day between different towers along the wall.<\/p>\n Mr McCorkindale said he will plan his biggest challenge yet after returning from China.<\/p>\n “I see it as kind of a pit stop between challenges,” he said.<\/p>\n “After this I want to go just absolutely extreme – just find the most most demanding challenge out there and see where it takes me.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Leicester on <\/em>Facebook<\/a>, on <\/em>X<\/a>, or on <\/em>Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to <\/em>eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or via <\/em>WhatsApp<\/a> on 0808 100 2210.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n