Everest express: Ex-SF team reach world's highest peak as they aim to break speed record
A team of four veterans, including Veterans Minister Al Carns, have reached the summit of Mount Everest.
Despite encountering an avalanche on the way up, the Mission: Everest Team made it to the top of world's highest mountain on track for their record attempt.
They waved a Union Flag once they reached the 8,849m peak - the flag belonging to former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns, which he said he'd carried on every tour.
The Mission: Everest team are attempting to set a new record, completing the epic trek from London to the top of Everest and back in just seven days, with the aim of raising up to £1m for veterans' charities.
The team is made up of expedition leader Major (Ret'd) Garth Miller, Mr Carns, Anthony "Staz" Stazicker, who was seen on television's SAS: Who Dares Wins, and Kevin Godlington, one of the founding members of the charity Tickets for Troops.
Mr Godlington is carrying with him the original name tag of Corporal Lee Scott, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009.
Cpl Scott's widow Nikki is the founder of the Scotty's Little Soldiers charity, and a spokesperson for the team said: "It’s a treasured keepsake that Nikki usually carries in her pocket at poignant moments and asked Kev to carry it to the top."
The group, wearing bespoke summit suits, are joined by a videographer and five sherpas and are now descending to base camp.
They are on track to break the current record of 21 days for the same round trip.
They set off from London on Friday 16 May, flying to Kathmandu where they travelled to Everest Base Camp by helicopter before beginning their ascent.
The highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,849m, Everest has seen many records set and broken in the past – but none done quite like this.
An expedition of this kind usually lasts around eight to 10 weeks.
The team acclimatised for the expedition at home in the UK, using hypoxic training.
This involved sleeping and exercising in a low-oxygen environment for months before the ascent, simulating the physiological changes that happen at high altitude.
This allowed them to start their ascent to the summit merely hours after arriving at base camp, with less risk of falling ill.
Controversially, they also inhaled xenon gas before setting off for the expedition.
It's a technique which is undergoing experimentation, but believed to help the body produce red blood cells, reducing the length of time needed to acclimatise.
They also skipped Camp One as they made their way up Everest, saving more time at another traditional stop for climbers to adapt to lower oxygen levels.
The team then ascended the summit at night, reaching the peak at around 07:15 local time.
They now have two days left to meet their target of returning to London in seven days.
SAS Who Dares Wins' Jason 'Foxy' Fox posted a message on Instagram congratulating the Mission Everest team on their achievement.
The former Royal Marine Commando and SBS Sergeant said: "They've done it! I'm proud to say these four are friends, they are also legends!
"Stay safe boys! he added.
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