FIREFIGHTER Paul Norris has returned from a gruelling three-day battle of endurance.
Paul, aged 41, flew to the Italian Alps with four men and five women as part of the UK team's trial for the Fulda Challenge 2006 - one of the world's toughest endurance tests.
Paul, who finished fourth in the men's tests, said: "The quickest man and woman went through to the challenge to represent the UK as a team of two.
"It was a fantastic experience, one I will never forget and I was very proud to get through the first set of heats against some of the country's fittest people."
"Rock climbing, a half marathon which was 13 miles long, four of which were up a slope of 4,000 feet, very tiring," said Paul, who lives in Smithills and is based at Farnworth fire station, had to endure rock climbing, a half-marathon, tree climbing, off-road driving, and a 30 kilometre mountain bike ride.
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