A VETERAN Royal Marine battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is about is about to embark on the third stage of a record attempt to cross the world's five largest islands completely unsupported.

Louis Nethercott, of Shipton Bellinger, has this week began trekking across Madagascar, travelling east to west following the historical lighthouses scattered across the coastline.

Along with former comrade Anthony Lambert, the 28-year-old has already completed a 40-day gruelling trek across 1,395km of unforgiving jungle in Borneo, the first island in his Expedition Five challenge,

They have also traversed across Papua New Guinea, the second largest island on the planet at approximately 785,753 square kilometres.

Louis and Ant will start their crossing in the northeast of Madagascar at the Cap Est lighthouse. They will then trek south, circumventing the Masoala peninsula before contouring the Bay of Antongil.

Going through the central highlands, they will climb to an elevation of 1,500metrees and continue onto Vilamatsa before navigating a 2,300km squared area of primary rainforest.

Louis said: “We will carry all of our equipment for the crossing and plan our journey to include water sources and food resupplies along the way.

“We know we are likely to confront a huge spectrum of unique and challenging environments. This will include massive granite outcrops, desert expanses, extinct volcanoes, alluvial plains and marches, untouched rainforest and not forgetting the myriad of interesting and dangerous creatures we are likely to find!”

For Louis, this challenge is a sign of how far he has come after a deployment to Afghanistan left him living with PTSD.

He joined the military when he was just 17 and 10-year military career took him all over the globe, including Europe, India, America, Africa, Norway and the Middle and Far East.

During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011 with 42 commando, he was involved in some of the most intense combat on the Herrick 14 campaign and it left a lasting mark.

He continued: “When I left the Royal Marines, I wanted a challenge to focus on and I wanted it to be unique.

We join the marines to push ourselves physically and mentally. When I left, that challenge just disappeared. So I wanted to replace it with something I am passionate about. Expedition Five has given me that drive back and is helping me to unleash the skills I still possess from my military days.

He is being supported in his world record attempt by military charity, Help for Heroes, who have grant funded £10,000 for the expedition, the likes of which has never been attempted before.

Louis and Anthony are raising money for Help for Heroes and The Royal Marines Charity. To donate, visit expedition5.co.uk.