British man with lung disease successfully climbs Mt. Everest
Photo from Nick Talbot’s Facebook profile
The third try proved to be the charm for British climber Nick Talbot, as he became the first person with cystic fibrosis to climb the world’s highest mountain, after nearly dying on his previous two attempts.
The 40-year-old, whose lifetime disease involves difficulty in breathing and regularly coughing up mucus, reached the summit of Mount Everest last week, according to The Telegraph.
The courageous adventurer reportedly took medication to cope with the lack of oxygen at such high altitude, but he still carried the same kit as his fellow mountaineers.
Talbot managed to achieve his goal in around seven weeks—the same length of time as it would take someone with normal lung function.
His first attempt in 2014 was foiled when 16 mountain guides were killed scaling the treacherous passes, according to the report, which forced Nick and other expeditions to turn back.
Last year’s attempt, however, ended in complete disaster when an earthquake triggered an avalanche, leaving Talbot seriously injured, while his friend Dan Fredinburg, a Google executive, lost his life.
The incident left Talbot with broken ribs, cuts, bruises, and worst of all hypothermia, which inflicted more damage to his already weak lungs.
Photo from Nick Talbot’s Facebook profile
Despite the traumatic experience, Talbot remained keen on finishing what he intended to accomplish.
His father, Keith, detailed to the Telegraph, how he tried to persuade his son not to go through with this third attempt.
“Both Gay [Nick’s mother] and I tried to talk him out of it last year, after he was so badly injured but it lasted about five minutes and it became very apparent he was going back,” said the elder Talbot.”I think it’s absolutely astonishing because no one with cystic fibrosis has been to this altitude before so no one really knew how badly it might affect someone.”
*please insert 2nd image. Photo taken from Nick Talbot’s Facebook profile.
Cystic fibrosis sufferers have problems with breathing and digestion because their lungs become clogged with a thick mucus.
The respiratory disease affects around 10,000 people in Britain and only half of those with the illness live to the age of 40.
Talbot’s inspirational climb, meanwhile, has already raised over £80,000 (PHP 5,392,114) for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a foundation dedicated for people afflicted with the disease. Khristian Ibarrola
