Selly Oak action man MP waves Birmingham flag on top of Everest in record breaking feat
Selly Oak's action man MP Al Carns has successfully completed his record breaking mission to get up and down Everest inside a week - and proudly waved a Birmingham flag on the summit.
Carns, speaking from Kathmandu Airport this morning, Thursday, May 22, waiting for the flight home that will take him into the record books, said he was 'incredibly proud' and 'feeling amazing' after the epic adventure.
"It was really tough - we walked pretty much non-stop for 55 hours, all uphill, to get to the top, but we did it."
READ MORE: Selly Oak's action man MP in record breaking bid to climb Everest in seven days
Carns said the eerie 'moonscape' that unfolded as the team neared the top of the peak was tragically 'littered' with the bodies of those who had tried but failed to reach the top or collapsed on the descent. "It really brought it home, this was the death zone, where there is no room for error or accident," he said.
At one point there was talk from their Sherpas of possible retreat because of the intense 70mph winds lashing them above Camp 4, at temperatures of -35 to -40, during their summit bid. "We said 'no way', and they agreed to continue for an hour - the clouds then parted and the winds subsided and we were able to make it to the top," he said.
The veterans minister, elected as Selly Oak's Labour MP in 2024 after being 'parachuted in' to the seat following the retirement of Steve McCabe, said he had proudly waved the Birmingham flag from the summit.
Carns was joined on the mission by former forces comrades Kevin Godlington, 49, Garth Miller, 51, and ThruDark clothing founder Anthony Stazicker, 41, wth their efforts sponsored by the clothing firm and other supporters.
Between them, the team have served in every major conflict since 1992 and earned every military gallantry medal except the Victoria Cross, but all of the citations are secret.
The team had inhaled xenon gas ahead of their record bid and slept in hypoxic tents at home for weeks so they could pre-acclimatise.
The revolutionary tactic worked like a dream, said Carns. "We had no headaches, no altitude sickness, it was incredible. The evidence shows this appears to work."
READ MORE: Selly Oak's action man MP in record breaking bid to climb Everest in seven days
It normally takes mountaineers up to ten weeks to scale the peak, the world's highest, by walking in to Base Camp and then awaiting a rare weather window to climb the route in stages, so the body can acclimatise to the deadly thin air.
But Carns and the team were up and down in three days. The evidence collected on their trip will be used to assess whether xenon gas can help Nepali and other high-altitude communities, and assist on other missions and expeditions in future.
Carns also hopes to help raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for veterans' charities and to also highlight the valour and experiences of ex-forces people. You can donate to the appeal here.
The team were waiting on a flight from Kathmandu airport to London, and expected to achieve their goal of getting from London to Everest and back inside seven days - an incredible feat. Enjoying a restorative pizza and beer, the jubilant team said they were thrilled to have executed their mission in style.
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