AN INSIPRATIONAL Stockbridge dad, whose life was turned upside down by a flesh eating bacteria, will battle adversity once more as he takes on a gruelling challenge.

Alex Lewis will kayak along a 170-mile stretch of coast off southern Greenland as part of an expedition organised by Hampshire Special Forces-led group, Pilgrim Bandits.

The 36-year-old dad, who had all four of his limbs amputated after a common cold developed into a deadly illness, will join fellow amputees on the challenging 10 day expedition.

The group, which aims to help injured soldiers live life to the full, will kayak side-by-side with Alex as they tackle rocky coastlines and negotiate icy glaciers.

The Stockbridge resident was invited to become a civilian ambassador for Pilgrim Bandits earlier this year due to his "remarkable can-do attitude" following a shocking series of events which began in 2013.

Alex originally developed a common cold but it quickly turned into something more serious and tests revealed he had contracted Group A streptococcus.

The normally harmless bacteria is usually filtered out by the body but in his case it turned into blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome.

His organs started to shut down and he spent a week in a coma as the deadly bacteria wreaked havoc throughout his body.

Doctors were forced to amputate his left arm and both legs above the knee. He also underwent a pioneering but ultimately unsuccessful 16-hour operation save his right arm.

But the former publican from Stockbridge has waged an incredible battle against adversity and is now preparing to take on his next big challenge.

He said: "It's a great chance to push myself.

"I would never have taken part in something like this prior to losing my limbs but when you’ve faced what I have anything seems possible.

"One of the biggest challenges will be manoeuvring myself across uneven or frozen terrain."

The disabled sailors will be paired with able-bodied people in double kayaks, with fee-paying kayakers joining the trip to offset some of the costs as well as helping the charity achieve its goal of funding a purpose-built kayak training centre.

They will paddle for about five hours each day, eating food that includes a type of fish that must be caught as they kayak.

Andre Edwards, the charity's general manager, said: "This is a hard trip - hazardous, gruelling and fraught with dangers.

"We've employed highly-regarded guides but this trip will certainly challenge everyone taking part. We will be completely isolated and away from all civilisation.

"On the upside we expect to see all manner of wildlife, including seals, eagles and foxes, and the Northern Lights.”