Model Daniella goes to Hell and Back

But the 24-year-old was delighted, though exhausted, after completing the gruelling Hell And Back Trojan Challenge at her first attempt.

Daniella completed the 10km assault course in one hour 40 minutes, with her trainer Patrick for encouragement.

"I am so proud after what I just achieved and was really happy to get through it," she told the Herald.

The 10km Hell And Back run takes place on the Kilruddery estate in Bray and is one of the toughest assault courses in Ireland.

Participants have to wade through barbed wire, ponds, rivers and swamps. Daniella wasn't the only famous face at the event – Transport Minister Leo Varadkar also mucked in.

Covered in mud, he joined 5,600 adventurers as they put their physical and mental endurance to the test in the charity run.

Screaming

Designed and tested by former members of the elite Army Ranger wing, the private course is set on 1,200 acres of "natural extreme terrain".

Participants put themselves to the ultimate test of endurance to raise funds for a charity of their choice. Daniella, who is with AR models, said the challenge was not only physical but also mental, with the sound of barking dogs and screaming children blasted out over the assault course in an attempt to intimidate participants.

"Some points were dire – there were so many hills and it was freezing – it was a marathon of obstacles."

"It was like a military assault course, so I have the utmost respect for every member of the Defence Forces after that," she added.

Daniella, who will compete in this year's Mini Marathon on behalf of charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), is hoping to run the complete 10km course for the first time and may use it as a warm-up for the Hell And Back challenge on June 15.

hnews@herald.ie