02/04/2008

British Explorer's Second Everest Attempt

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will attempt to scale Everest for the second time in late April.

Doctors have warned the British explorer against the challenging feat but Sir Ranulph is determined to be the first person to have crossed both polar caps and climbed Everest.

Sir Ranulph's first attempt to climb Everest in 2005 was crushed when he suffered severe chest pains just 300m short of the summit.

He said: "So irritating. It took 72 days to get that high. It would have been better if my ticker had waitetd just a bit longer.

"My wife's not keen [on the latest] expedition. She reckons my health is not good enough. I disagree."

Sir Ranulph still managed to rarised £2 million for the British Heart Foundation.

British climbers and Everest veterans Kenton Cool and Dr Rob Casserley will join Sir Ranulph in his quest.

The group hope to reach the summit after May 15 when weather conditions should be at their best.

Sir Ranulph hopes that his latest adventure will raise £3 million for the charity Marie Curie Cancer Care.

According to National Geographic, Everest grows about 4 millimetres a year.

(DS/KMcA)


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