Former Cardiff Devil tells of his adventure to DEAD BODIES, AVALANCHES AND RELIEF – THAT’S WHAT IT’S LIKE TO CLIMB EVEREST

HE passed three dead bodies, saved the life of a man, and nearly fell down a ravine while conquering Everest – but adventurer Jeff Smith said nothing stopped him wanting to carry on.

Apart from the chilling reminder that he was risking his life when he saw two dead climbers taken down the mountain, and passed another on the frozen ground, the 53-year-old narrowly avoided a deadly avalanche on the last day as he returned to base camp.

“I nearly died on the last day. It really is knife-edge stuff. You have to be focused all the time,” said dad-of-two Jeff, who returned home to Cardiff at the end of May.

Of the estimated 1,000 people who attempt to summit the world’s tallest mountain each year, only around 500 make it. The challenge should not be underestimated, warns the former Cardiff Devils ice hockey player.

Jeff, who has had two hip replacements and knee surgery, spent years preparing for the climb after a previous attempt three years ago was abandoned when an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas.

When he set off for Nepal in April he said he knew just what a challenge he would be undertaking.

Apart from climbing up to eight hours a day, sleeping in tents clinging to the mountainside, and living off powdered food, Jeff and his teammates never changed their clothes for the entire six-day climb, which saw them ascend for four days and descend for two. To save on weight they wore the same snow suits night and day.

And all litter, including toilet waste, had to be taken with them and carried off the mountain in bags.

“There was a lot of death. I saw three people dead,” said Jeff.

“Two were being lowered down past me as I was climbing up and the third was when I was coming down. There was just this guy dead on the ice.

“It really affected me. It was a real stark image that told me death was prevalent on this mountain and that if I