Japanese climber, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest

In this May 22, 2013 photo distributed by Miura Dolphins Co. Ltd., 80-year-old Japanese extreme skier Yuichiro Miura, right, and his son, Gota pose at their South Col camp at 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) before their departure for Camp 5 during their attempt to scale the summit of Mount Everest. Miura, who climbed Mount Everest five years ago, but just missed becoming the oldest man to reach the summit, was back on the mountain Wednesday to make another attempt at the title. (AP Photo/Miura Dolphins Co. Ltd.)

KATMANDU, Nepal — A Nepalese official says 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer Yuichiro Miura has become the oldest man to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Miura, who also conquered the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) peak when he was 70 and 75, reached the summit at 9:05 a.m. local time Thursday, according to his support team in Tokyo. Miura called them from the summit to report the news.

Nepalese mountaineering official Gyanendra Shrestha, at Everest base camp, confirmed that Miura had reached the summit, making him the oldest person to do so.

The previous age record holder was Nepal’s Min Bahadur Sherchan, who accomplished the feat at age 76 in 2008.

Sherchan, now 81, was preparing for his own attempt on the summit next week.