Irish team reaches summit of Everest

AN IRISH team have been celebrating their conquest of Mount Everest over the weekend.

“With less than 20 Irish people having climbed Everest, and less than 2,000 people in the world having reached the summit via the southeast ridge, I feel proud to have completed this challenge,” said Ian Taylor (29) from Co Kildare.

His climbing partner, Graham Kinch (29), was forced to turn around just above 8,600 metres, due to a torn chest muscle.

Mr Kinch said that although he was disappointed at not making it, they had agreed that if one of them reached the summit it would constitute a success.

The pair set themselves a target of climbing four mountains on four continents in one year in aid of a Ugandan school project, through the Irish charity Fields of Life. Their aim was to raise €85,000, or €1 for every foot they climbed over a 12-month period from last June.

The pair confirmed Mr Taylor’s success, which was recorded at 12.02am Irish time on May 23rd, on returning safely to base camp in Nepal yesterday.

On the final approach, Mr Taylor said he had to help prevent another climber from stepping off a knife-edge ridge at the 8,200 metre South Summit just before the Hillary Step. The climber’s oxygen mask had frozen, which can lead to hypoxia and blindness.