I loved climbing because of the freedom, and having time and space. I remember coming off Everest for the last time, thinking of Dad and wishing that he could have seen what I saw. He would have loved it.

Textbook survival tells you to stay put. Stop. Wait for rescue. Don't take any risks. But there'd been a whole host of survival shows like that and I didn't really want to do that.

It breaks my heart that my father never knew my children. He should have been around for another 25 years.

The only difference between 'try' and 'triumph' is varying degrees of 'umph'

I come from a line of self-motivated, determined folk - not grand, not high society, but no-nonsense, family-minded go-getters.

As a young boy, scouting gave me a confidence and camaraderie that is hard to find in modern life.

The special forces gave me the self-confidence to do some extraordinary things in my life. Climbing Everest then cemented my belief in myself.