A 69 year-old double amputee reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side on Monday morning, on his fifth attempt to climb the world’s highest peak.
Chinese national Xia Boyu reached the summit at 8:26 am Nepal time, according to a post by his son Cloud Xia on the Chinese messaging platform WeChat.
“My Dad reached Everest at 8:26 Nepal time!!! Has realised his 40 years dream!!!” Cloud Xia wrote.
Xia senior lost both of his legs below the knee amputated after suffering frostbite in a failed Everest expedition when he was just 25. He is now reportedly descending the mountain.
He is being guided by Mingma G. Sherpa, a veteran Nepalese mountaineer, who successfully climbed the world’s 14 highest mountains on first attempt. An additional 11 Sherpas are providing support.
“I love the mountain,” Xia told TIME prior to his climb, “I will fight for it my entire life.”
Xia’s success casts fresh light on the Nepalese government’s failed attempt to ban certain groups of climbers from the mountain. Read more