British explorer calls off North Pole trek after ski bolts break

London: British explorer Ben Saunders said on Saturday he had called off his attempt to become the fastest man to reach the North Pole alone and unaided, after his ski bolts broke.

Saunders, 30, had covered 60 miles in eight days when the bolts attached to his ski bindings sheared off on Thursday.

"To have the expedition that is the culmination of seven years training, preparation and experience forced to a halt due to an equipment failure is incredibly disappointing," Saunders said.

He attributed the bolts breaking to "the unprecedented, appalling conditions of the ice" as he dragged his heavy sledge.