Ex-Devils star tackles Everest for second time

FORMER Cardiff Devils star Jeff Smith is nearing the summit of Everest on his second bid to climb the mountain.

Jeff, 53, who has two hip replacements, arthritis in his knees and had a double operation on his knees last November, said he was feeling “ready and strong”.

He set off from base camp in the early hours of Saturday for the final push to the summit, after a previous attempt in 2014 had to be abandoned when an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas.

Before setting off from base camp, the father of two from St Mellons, who now runs good deeds project Big Moose, said he hopes his mission will inspire others.

He has been going into schools in Wales and across the UK to talk about his goal to try to encourage pupils to take on their own challenges, however big or small.

Jeff’s daughter Chloe, 23,who spoke to him by phone as he was preparing to leave base camp, said: “He is feeling ready. It’s very exciting. We are all a bit nervous, but it’s his dream.

“This is going to be a very exciting and scary few days. Dad is very nervous but he told me yesterday he feels as ready as he’ll ever be. This is what he has worked so hard for over the last year and dreamed of for so long.

“All is going well and he is feeling good, it is extremely tough, mentally and physically but he is loving the challenge.

“His knees are holding up well even after a double knee operation in November last year and all of his team are doing well.”

An online appeal she set up after two of Jeff’s main sponsors pulled out at the last minute has raised £1,084 of a £15,000 goal.

The adventurer returned from his last attempt to climb Everest admitting he wasn’t sure if he would go back after experiencing the aftermath of the deadly avalanche.

He had been acclimatising on neighbouring Mount Lobuche when the avalanche struck on April 18 2014.

His then team leader Russell Brice had called a helicopter from Kathmandu to co-ordinate rescues and recover bodies while the team’s doctor Anne Brants identified those who had died.

Since then Nepal has also suffered a devastating earthquake.

Jeff, who took up climbing after retiring from the Devils 20 years ago, is now due to reach the summit of Everest on either Wednesday or Thursday, Chloe said.

Chloe, sister Tiffany and Jeff’s wife Tania are all following his progress from home in St Mellons.