HE may have missed out on the big moment, but Hampshire adventurer Nick Bubb can take comfort from the words of his expedition leader.

Shortly after completing a gruelling Antarctic adventure, internationally-renowned Tim Jarvis praised the courage shown by the 33-year-old yachtsman and fellow members of the team.

Tim, 46, spoke out after the Shackleton Epic expedition ended in triumph.

Nick, from Lymington, is suffering from trench foot and was unable to take part in the second and final leg of a marathon journey from Elephant Island to a remote part of South Georgia.

He had to remain aboard a support vessel while fellow members of the expedition completed a three-day trek across South Georgia’s mountainous interior.

But Nick was able to greet his companions when they arrived at Stromness, having successfully re-enacted the legendary trip made by polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and some of his crew almost 100 years ago.

Describing them as “an outstanding group of courageous men”, Tim said: “I could not have selected a finer or more capable team of people.

“They pulled together under extreme conditions to help us achieve our goal.

“They’re all first-rate individuals but together we became a tight-knit group who braved the odds and achieved what at times felt like the impossible.”

Shackleton was left stranded after his ship the Endurance was crushed by pack ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.

Nick and five other men re-enacted Shackleton’s 800-mile voyage to South Georgia in an replica of his boat.

Nick and the others are planning to visit Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken.