Mick Murphy, one of the two Irish climbers who reached the Everest summit on Thursday morning, returned to Kathmandu yesterday from Base Camp.
He was elated but exhausted after reaching the roof of the world with fellow expedition member Ger McDonnell.
The journey back to the Nepalese capital was nearly as dangerous as the climb up the mountain. Five members of the Irish team watched as the helicopter, which was to take them back to Kathmandu, had to abort its first landing.
Team leader Pat Falvey, who had got to within 130 feet of the summit before turning back with the onset of high-altitude cerebral oedema, had organised two helicopter trips to ferry the climbers and back-up team to Kathmandu.
Murphy and McDonnell reached the summit with their sherpas, Pemba Gelu Sherpa and Pemba Ringe Sherpa, on Thursday. Murphy joined Falvey, communications officer and base camp manager John Joyce, film cameraman Kevin Hughes and climber Clare O'Leary, whose attempt was cut short by a debilitating stomach bug, for the flight to Kathmandu.
McDonnell and fellow climber Hannah Shields were left waiting in Base Camp with Clare O'Leary's sister, Carol, and supporter Ann Kelleher. However the helicopter did not return and Falvey had to try to organise a rescue flight to get them back. They spent last night at the bottom of the mountain and are expected to be flown back to Kathmandu today.