Fiennes Summits Everest

After two failed attempts and a heart attack at 8,500m Sir Ranulph Fiennes famously declared "I won't be returning to Everest. It's a seven week trip - last time I had a heart attack, this time bad timing and weather scuppered my chances. I think any third attempt would be bad luck." A year on and Fiennes, Britains greatest living explorer, was back and at 1am this morning became the first person to cross the North and South Poles and stand on the summit of Mount Everest. At 65 Sir Ranulph becomes the first British pensioner and oldest Brit to summit the world's highest mountain, and hopes to raise £3 million for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.

In a break from the style of his two previous attempts this year's expedition was deliberately low key, and rather than join a major commercial trip Fiennes chose to select a small team of Shepas and retain the services of regular partner Kenton Cool. During his 2005 attempt on Everest, Sir Ranulph had a heart attack just 300 metres short of the summit and last year was forced again to turn back - this time at 8,400 metres after suffering from exhaustion. Last year's attempt was alongside experienced mountaineer and guide Kenton Cool, who also guided on Feinnes successful ascent of the Eiger's North Face in 2007. Among Sir Ranulph's other notable numerous are becoming the first man to reach the north and south poles by land unaided and completing seven marathons on seven continents in seven days in 2003 - just 4 months after triple heart bypass surgery!

On summiting as dawn was breaking Sir Ranulph said: "I have summited Everest for Marie Curie Cancer Care which has long been a personal goal. I urge everyone who followed my attempt last year to give generously to Marie Curie so that we can at last achieve our £3 million target to support its pioneering work in end-of-life care." Commenting on conditions on the ascent, which followed the classic South East Ridge route, Sir Ranulph said it was "very very cold" and that he felt "dreadful" but pleased and that summiting the world's highest mountain was "the closest you can get to the moon by walking".

For more details check out the BBC and Everest News