Poirot finds clues to fitness

David Suchet CBE spent a day at the University Eastbourne campus gathering tips before a charity trek to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in the Andes Mountains.

The award-winning actor, best known for playing Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot, joined other members of his family including newsreader John Suchet at the University’s Environmental Extremes Lab ahead of their two-week challenge.

In collaboration with local altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte, Dr Neil Maxwell, Gregor Eichhorn (PhD student), Mel Stemper (recent MSc graduate) and Josh Pennick (current MSc student) carried out altitude screening on the six members of the Suchet family.

Dr Maxwell, Reader in Environmental Extremes in the School of Sport and Service Management and member of the Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine Research and Enterprise Group provided education around altitude illness and ways to prepare for the trek to make it enjoyable but also safer.

He said: “The University has an international reputation for research in this field and it was a privilege to help the Suchet family with their worthy fund-raising challenge.”

The Suchet family’s trek (earlier this month) raised more than £40,000 for Global’s Make Some Noise charity which helps youngsters and their families living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.

Find out more on Dr Maxwell’s blog.