Two-man team reaches Everest summit

A two-man team of climbers from Northern Ireland reached the summit of Mount Everest early today.

Terence “Banjo” Bannon from Newry, Co Down and New Zealander Jamie McGuinness reached the top of the world’s highest mountain after taking nine hours to climb the final 500 metres.

It is the first time a Northern Ireland team has reached the summit and follows the success of the Republic of Ireland team earlier in the month.

Speaking by satellite phone from the summit, McGuinness said they were overjoyed.

“It is two or three hours after sunrise and we are feeling great.”

The two men are understood to have suffered some frostbite in their hands. They made it to the top at the second attempt, having been beaten back by the weather on the same day the Republic of Ireland team succeeded.