‘Almost dead’ Pendleton pulls out of bid to climb Everest
... but Fogle vows to push on alone
BEN Fogle has revealed that Victoria Pendleton was ‘nearly dead’ when she was forced to quit their expedition to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Miss Pendleton, 37, had to be rescued before the final climb to the top after doctors advised her that she could not continue.
The jockey and former Olympic track cycling champion had spent weeks acclimatising in preparation to reach the 29,029ft summit with adventurer and TV presenter Fogle.
They reached base camp on April 21 but she began suffering from oxygen deficiency, known as hypoxia, at Camp 2, 21,000ft above sea level, and required additional oxygen to alleviate the symptoms of the condition which can be fatal if untreated.
Fogle, 44, posted a picture of the two on Instagram yesterday and said he had promised Miss Pendleton he would continue to pursue ‘his childhood dream’ of reaching the peak.
Of her deteriorating condition, he wrote: ‘Her oxygen saturation was worryingly low. At sea level most of us would record a healthy 99/100%, anything lower than 95% and you’d probably find yourself in casualty. Victoria registered 21%. That’s nearly dead. It was pretty scary for all of us to say the least.’
Pendleton wrote on Instagram that she had been unable to keep pace with the team ‘without causing concern regarding my health at the higher camps’.
She went on: ‘I am incredibly disappointed not to complete the challenge. I am extremely 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.’
Pendleton was attempting to climb Everest along with Fogle and mountaineer Kenton Cool in an expedition due to last about a month across April and May. Fogle and Cool have now reached the third camp at 23,600ft.
Fogle wrote that he would have been happy to give up the climb ‘in solidarity’ with Miss Pendleton but added: ‘She made me promise I would continue to pursue my childhood dream and raise awareness of the Anything is Possible Foundation and the British Red Cross by continuing.
‘Many tears have been shed but the expedition will continue. Victoria will be there in spirit. An inspiration to so many, she has embraced a can-do attitude to life. She is the embodiment of those who embrace life despite the risk of failure.
‘She hasn’t failed. She is a shining example of someone who dared to try. After all, the journey is the destination. Vic will continue on this adventure as a shadow at my side. Thank you Vic. We are still a team. The mountain will be a lonelier place without you.’
An expedition spokesman said: ‘No individual can predict exactly how their body will respond to the effects of extreme altitude such as that encountered above base camp.
‘A small percentage of the population experience more challenging symptoms, and it is likely that Victoria is in this minority.’
Miss Pendleton had previously admitted that her husband Scott Gardner, 42, the former Team GB sports scientist, would have preferred her not to embark on the adventure with Fogle. ‘In an ideal world, he would like to be able to stop me, but he knows that won’t make me happy,’ she said.
‘It was pretty scary for all of us’