A British Army officer became the first person to reach the South Pole on foot in two years, completing the journey in just over 40 days.

Preet Chandi, nicknamed Polar Preet, beat temperatures of minus 50 ° C (minus 58 ° F) and winds of up to 60 mph (97 km / h) while pulling a 90 kg (198 lb) sled.

However, the 32-year-old from Derby completed his 700-mile (1,127 km) challenge nearly a week ahead of schedule, skiing from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole in 40 days, seven hours and three minutes.

Captain Chandi, a physical therapist for Medical Regiment 3, nearly broke the record set by Johanna Davidsson in 2016.

The Swede became the fastest woman to complete a solo expedition to the continent, after 38 days, 23 hours and 55 minutes, the British Army said.

Ms. Chandi, who is a Sikh, suffered from exhaustion towards the end of the trip, as well as persistent coughing and discomfort.

She said on Instagram: “Hello everyone, recording from the 40th. I arrived at the South Pole where it is snowing.

“I feel so many emotions right now. I didn’t know anything about the polar world three years ago and it’s so surreal to finally be here.

“It was difficult getting here and I want to thank everyone for their support. “

She is now the third fastest woman to cross the continent on foot and the first person to reach the South Pole on foot in two years.

She hopes her achievement will inspire others, writing: “This expedition has always been more than me.

“I want to encourage people to push their limits and believe in themselves, and I want you to be able to do that without being labeled a rebel.

“I’ve been repeatedly told ‘No’ and ‘just do normal,’ but we create our own normality. You are capable of anything you want.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from or where your starting line is, they all start somewhere. I don’t want to just smash the glass ceiling, I want to smash it into a million pieces. “

Brigadier Elizabeth Faithfull-Davies CBE, commander of the 102nd Sustainment Brigade, said: “I have watched Polar Preet’s efforts in Antarctica with awe and wonder as I have watched her maintain incredible distances and pace every day of her expedition.

“I am absolutely delighted to know that you have achieved your ambition to reach the South Pole and I am very proud to have shown how much we can achieve if we think about it.

“She is an inspiration to all of us and is a fabulous role model as the first woman of color to achieve this amazing feat. “