Read the text and fill in the gaps with the right phrases. There are TWO extra phrases you don’t need to use.

Together to the Poles
Janek Mela is the youngest explorer to go to the North and South Poles.
27th July, 2002, was the worst day of Janek Mela’s life. ... . He got an electric shock of 15,000 volts. His parents rushed him to hospital for an emergency operation. Doctors saved his life ... . Janek was very unhappy. He spent a long time in hospital. Then one day the Polish explorer, Marek Kaminski, visited him and talked about an expedition to the North and South Poles. ... .
Months of treatment and preparation began. First, Janek learned to use his artificial arm and leg. Then he trained for the journeys. They called the expeditions ‘Together to the Poles’ and ... . Finally, his recovery was complete. The first expedition was to the North Pole. The 112-kilometre journey took twenty-one days. ... , for example, cracks in the ice, polar bears and very bad weather. ‘It was really difficult,’ says Janek, ‘but things got better.’ They reached the Pole on 24th April, 2004.
In December the team started the expedition to the South Pole. ... . There were storms, 200 kph winds and temperatures of minus 30 degrees C. On some days, they only walked four kilometres. For the Christmas celebration, they had traditional Polish dishes like ‘borsch’ \(beetroot soup\). ... ! They reached the Pole on 1st January, 2005.
Janek didn’t just break a record. He showed incredible bravery and his achievement is truly great.