A MAN from Rhyl who changed his life during the COVID-19 pandemic has now realised his dream of visiting all of the seven wonders of the world by the end of 2024.
Andy Morrissey, a 45-year-old former oil rig worker, has managed to “make the impossible possible”, having been to each of them in the space of just 10 months.
He set out on his journey in January, first visiting the Colosseum in Rome, before heading to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, and completed all seven when he went to Machu Picchu earlier this month.
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Along the way, he also managed to complete The ROC Wales half-ironman event, knocking 45 minutes off his time from the previous year.
It marks the latest chapter in a remarkable recovery for Andy, who said he was in a “dark place” at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, weighing more than 15 stone and “drowning my sorrows in heavy drinking”.
An ex-serviceman, he described his experiences in the last 10 months as "life-changing”, and has raised £4,200 for Help the Heroes in the process.
Andy said: "It was a life-changing event. I’d definitely do them all again. it was absolutely amazing.
“The Inca Trail (Machu Picchu four-day walk of roughly 28 miles) was by far the best part. It wasn’t easy by any means, but it was an amazing thing to do.”
The visit to Egypt “blew my mind”, Andy added, while his visit to the “amazing” Petra in Jordan was another personal highlight.
Though he set out to visit all seven wonders of the world on his own, he had company in Petra from a friend who was completing the same challenge as him but in reverse order.
Andy next plans to walk the length of the Great Wall of China before the end of 2023, and wants to climb as many mountains as possible across the globe.
To those who want to follow in his footsteps and visit the seven wonders, he said: "Be prepared for anything. The weather can be unpredictable and the travel can be tiring, so it's important to be flexible and adaptable.
"Do your research - make sure you know what you're getting into and that you're prepared for the different challenges you'll face.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help - there are plenty of people who are willing to help you along the way, so don't be afraid to ask for directions.”
Since the start of the pandemic, Andy has achieved other personal milestones in publishing a book (“All At Sea: The Offshore Worker’s Fake Dream”), as well as shedding more than three stone and developing a “chiselled six-pack” in the process.
In the last three years, he has also raised more than £1,000 for Cancer Research UK, and roughly £3,000 for Rhyl-based The Osborne Trust, supporting those aged 16 or younger during a parent's cancer treatment.
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