British climber completes record-breaking 16th summit of Mount Everest

BRITISH mountaineer Kenton Cool has completed a record-breaking 16th summit of Mount Everest – the most number of climbs by any non-sherpa.

Mr Cool, 48, reached the summit of the 8,849-metre (29,032ft) peak overnight on Saturday, alongside British fitness entrepreneur Rebecca Louise, who was completing the feat for the first time.

In his previous 15 trips up Everest, Mr Cool has been a guide to other well-known mountaineers, including Sir Ranulph Fiennes and broadcaster Ben Fogle.

Fogle described Mr Cool, who lives in Gloucestershire with his wife and two children, as “one of the all-time greats”.

He added: “To climb Everest once was a trial – to climb it 16 times is heroic.”

Along with his 16 Everest summits, he previously became the first person to complete the Everest triple crown, comprising Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse in one push without returning to base camp. He was also the first British guide to lead a client to the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.

In 1996, after he shattered both heel bones in a rock-climbing accident, he was told he would never walk again unaided.

But he defied those predictions with a year of surgery and therapy, although he still suffers chronic pain.

Speaking via satellite phone ahead of his push to the summit, Mr Cool said conditions were looking good, with a “great weather forecast” and a “great team”.

“Overconfidence on a mountain like Everest is a dangerous thing, so nothing is assured until you’re back down at base camp,” he said.

“Fingers crossed we’ll be at base camp in about three days and we might be able to crack a beer and celebrate Rebecca’s first summit, my 16th summit, and a successful descent by all the Sherpa team.”

A post on Mr Cool’s Instagram page later read: “SUMMIT SUCCESSFUL. Kenton & Team have reached the summit of Chomolungma, Sagarmatha, Mt Everest. This marks KC’S 16th summit, a non Sherpa record.”

According to the Himalayan Database, as of 2019, around 5,400 mountaineers have climbed Everest, with around 700-800 attempting to reach the summit each year.

During the pandemic, the number of climbers attempting the challenge plunged to around 400 as Covid restrictions hit the Nepalese mountaineering industry.