Levi, 12, conquers Everest Base Camp

A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolboy from South Wales has completed an adventure of a lifetime – by trekking to Everest Base Camp.

Levi Thomas, from Pontypridd, embarked on the journey with his 33-yearold mum Georgina. It took them eight days to reach the base camp, before resting for two days to acclimatise to the altitude. They then spent three days walking down.

Levi has already climbed the UK’s highest peaks – conquering Snowdon when he was seven, Ben Nevis when he was eight, and Scafell Pike when he was nine.

Georgina said: “We have a huge obesity problem in this country and lots of parents won’t climb but actually it’s a great way to stay active and stay fit. As long as you prepare properly and research all the risks, you will be fine.”

Speaking about when Levi walked up Snowdon, she said: “My son did incredibly well and climbed to the peak in two hours – it usually takes four hours.”

Georgina believes her son is the youngest Welsh child to reach Everest Base

Camp after searching for records online. She says the climb was great for her son as it gave him a break from electronic devices.

“The great thing was he was away from his electronics and enjoying himself,” she said. “He has learnt about climates, mother nature and so much more which he obviously wouldn’t have otherwise. “He really enjoyed the climb.”

Levi has his sights set on conquering Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Fiji next.

Georgina hopes she can inspire other parents and children to go hiking.

She added: “He is an inspiration and it shows that the sky’s the limit. You can achieve anything with this mindset and I hope more parents will be inspired to take their kids on treks to explore nature.

“We are lucky in Wales to have so many mountains on our doorstep we should make the most of it.”