A FORESTRY worker has spoken of his joy at conquering Mount Everest and relief, after his father made a full recovery from a life-threatening condition he developed on the mountain.

Chris Bradley said he achieved his dream of reaching the 29,029ft peak days after his 60-year-old father, David, was airlifted to hospital in Kathmandu suffering from a high altitude pulmonary oedema and kidney damage from dehydration, having started his third attempt to climb the mountain.

Mr Bradley senior, of Upsall, near Thirsk, whose previous ascents in 2014 and last year had been abandoned following Sherpas being killed in an avalanche on Everest’s icefall and a devastating earthquake, said a blood clot had formed in his left calf muscle at about 12,000ft, before moving to his lungs. The semi-retired chartered accountant said: “In that instant my expedition was doomed and I had severely reduced lung capacity for the next three weeks, including nine days at Everest Base Camp when I made a trip half-way up the icefall. Had I not evacuated I would have eventually collapsed and likely died. Of course the dream is over, but it was just a dream and Everest is just a mountain.”

As his condition stabilised in hospital, his son decided to continue with the eight-week expedition, which had been sponsored by Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery.

Chris Bradley said he would have loved to have celebrated at the summit with his father, but was thankful he had fully recovered and was able to share some of the experience.

He added: “I am delighted to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. It has always been a dream of mine to stand up there and experience some of the history which makes Everest such a special place. It was a fantastic experience, but a massive challenge that was extremely difficult at times due to the weather conditions.”