Adventurer Mark Pollock’s bravery honoured with degree

A blind adventurer who was paralysed in 2010 was described as an inspiration to the next generation of doctors alongside whom he received an honorary degree.

Mark Pollock was given the doctorate by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) at the RDS in Dublin yesterday as almost 300 doctors from 24 countries received their medical degrees.

The Co Down adventure athlete lost his sight due to a detached retina in 1998 but went on to run six marathons in seven days in the Gobi Desert. He was the first blind person to race to the South Pole, and won two rowing medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.