A trainee stuntman has returned home after completing a gruelling 16,000km journey across Siberia.

Olly Rowland had to battle sub zero temperatures as he took part in the Pioneers Ice Run, driving a motorbike up a frozen river into the Arctic Circle.

If that was not hard enough, the 23-year-old had to inject himself with insulin several times a day as he suffers from type 1 diabetes.

He said: “I had to plan a little more carefully than my team mate.

“I took advice from my GP and Diabetes UK who were very helpful in advising on how to handle my insulin.

“My main worries were my insulin freezing, the pens or cartridges cracking and the needles either becoming brittle and snapping, or as they would be cold metal, getting stuck to my skin, or even worse in my skin.”

The below freezing temperature meant that any skin left open to the elements could get frost nip after about three minutes.

Normally, the injections are a simple process but decked out in winter gear and thick gloves meant it took a lot longer to administer the doses.

As part of Team Numbnuts, Olly and his team mate Rob Mills had to overcome daily struggles as they ventured across Russia.

He said: “The bike broke down at least twice a day, once it even flipped over going into a ditch and my foot got caught under the carburettor. I got dragged along under the bike until the truck driver realised what was going on.

“Luckily, I was saved by my ridiculously large snow boots.

“The temperature got as low as -34.8 degrees and we were always cold and tired, and even having a drink meant melting snow for half an hour.

“It was a brilliant adventure –my diabetes didn’t hamper me out there at all, we had some amazing experiences, met some fantastic local people and raised a lot of money, so I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Given his condition, it seemed only right for Olly to raise money for Diabetes UK while taking part in the Ice Run.

And despite returning, people can still donate at justgiving.com/numbnuts-diabetesuk