A Lothersdale couple have helped conquer a jungle ravine four years after it almost claimed the lives of five soldiers.

Steve and Kath Jones are among a party of climbers and cavers who have descended 8,500 feet into 'The Place of the Dead' - Low's Gully in Borneo.

The 15-strong team's epic adventure of skill and endurance has been filmed for Channel 4 television and can be seen on Sunday, May 17.

Steve and Kath were recruited to help tackle the notorious ten-mile-long gully at the foot of Mount Kinabalu because of their skills as potholers. Their feat comes four years after a team of British soldiers became trapped in the gully, five of them staggering out from the jungle alone after 20 days. Their five colleagues were eventually rescued ten days later.

Kath, 34, a dietician at Airedale Hospital, and climbing wall designer Steve, 36, are among a party of 30, including scientists, a camera crew and Rich Mayfield, one of the soldiers who escaped in 1994.

They were invited onto the team by Earby potholer Kenny Taylor, who was the only adventurer injured on the expedition. Kenny fell 30 feet and injured his arm and ribs while 3,000 feet into the gully.

"I was five days into the trip and we had descended 3,000 feet," he says. "We decided to continue to go down the gully because it was safer than going back over the very dangerous ground. I then had to haul myself up another 1,500 feet by rope. It was very painful.

"I was elated when I heard they had completed the trip. I immediately telephoned the sponsors in Borneo and and expressed my congratulations and good wishes."

The trip has been sponsored by Manchester-based Coverplus which manufacturers Ventflex, a waterproof and breathable fabric which was used in the clothing worn by the team.

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