Oxygen in ‘death hero Ben Fogle

personal welfare above any summit ego.” He added: “This whole Everest expedition has been such an incredible adventure.

“It is almost impossible to summarise what the past five weeks have been like here in the high Himalayas. The Nepalese Sherpas have been one of the highlights. Their eyes twinkle with such beauty.

“Indeed in many ways it has been their beautiful spirit that has kept up my own spirits when they have been battled by physical and mental challenges. I never thought climbing Everest was going to be easy, indeed it has tested me in ways other expeditions haven’t. Success and failure have become constant bedfellows.

“But reaching the top of the world will remain a highlight of my life.”

He paid tribute to double Olympic gold-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton, 37, who was his climbing partner at the start but who had to pull out of the ascent after suffering a severe bout of altitude sickness during the acclimatisation phase.

Calling her “the one big missing part of the expedition”, he said: “We missed you, Vic, but you were there in spirit. We trained for world mountaineering together and you were an inspiration. My only regret is that you weren’t able to stand on the roof of the world with me.”

Fogle will make his way back to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where he will catch a flight back to the UK to be reunited with his wife Marina and their children at the weekend.

His climb in support of The British Red Cross was backed by Anythingis Possible.world. Fogle is a UN Patron of the Wilderness and Mountain Hero.