Pendleton in climb scare
OLYMPIC champ Victoria Pendleton “nearly died” on an Everest climb.
The cycling heroine, 37, fell ill after struggling to cope with the thin air at altitude.
She was attempting to reach the world’s highest peak with adventurer Ben Fogle but was instructed to pull out on doctor’s advice.
Ben, 44, said: “It was pretty scary for all of us.
“Her oxygen saturation and pulse were worryingly low and high respectively. Anything lower than 95% oxygen you woud probably find yourself in A&E.
“Victoria registered a 21% – that’s nearly dead. To see her in such a state was something I never wanted to experience.”
Victoria, who won three Olympic medals including two golds, was taken ill at almost 6,400m on the 8,848m mountain.
Ben said she took the “brave and sensible decision to not carry on”.
He added: “We would be foolhardy at best to take Victoria towards the death zone of Everest.
“You can be the strongest person in the world and still be struck by altitude. My turn may well come.”
A relieved Victoria said: “I am extremely disappointed not to complete the challenge. I am grateful for this opportunity to have experienced one of the most impressive, imposing and challenging environments on the planet.
“The Himalayas are a magical place I feel honoured to have visited.”
The super-fit pair were attempting the climb to raise funds for the British Red Cross.
Ben, who will carry on the challenge without Victoria, said he had been inspired by the Red Cross’s work in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in west London that killed 72 people.
To prepare, the pair trained in some punishing climates around the world including the Alps and Bolivian Andes.