Daredevil deputy returns from his jungle adventure

JUNGLE ADVENTURER: Steve Hill in Borneo

TARGETED by leeches and mosquitoes while drenched in sweat in 100 per cent humidity - while hacking a path through dense jungle vegetation with a machete - doesn’t sound like much fun.

But that ‘s the kind of challenge pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School, Shaw, have come to expect from their deputy head.

Steve Hill’s latest 14-day venture took him deep into the interior of the planet’s third largest island — Borneo in the Pacific.

He was dwarfed by immense trees: “There are so many species of plants, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals; it was amazing. We trekked through the hot jungle for 12 days, covering 15km a day, and made camp each evening among the trees. It was tough going. On most days there was 100 per cent humidity. It was a fantastic but challenging experience.”

Mr Hill’s journey ended with a two-day climb of the 13,435ft Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South Asia, reaching the top in time for a spectacular early morning sunrise.

Now back home and ready to relate tales of his adventures to his year six class, the intrepid tutor said: “It was a real challenge - but an amazing experience, a real adventure. The best things were the complete remoteness of the jungle and the wide array of wildlife. The worst was the humidity and, without doubt, the leeches and mosquitoes!”

Steve said: “I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far, with a very special mention to my wonderful class and the parents and staff at St Joseph’s who have been fantastic.”

Steve does a mammoth challenge a year to boost the fundraising effort of his class.

This year his pupils are helping Cancer Research UK, PKD UK (polysystic kidney disease), Shane Keating, a first-year pupil at the school who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and CAFOD, which is building a well in an African village.

The fund so far stands at more than £2,000, with more fundraising events in the run-up to Christmas.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mr Hill can do so at www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Hill9