An 80-year old Japanese mountaineer has reached the summit of Mount Everest, making him the oldest man to scale the world's highest peak.
Yuichiro Miura, who climbed Everest when he was 70 in 2003 and then again at 75, reached the peak early on Thursday morning, his support team said.
Mr Miura replaces Nepal's Min Bahadur Sherchan, who was 76 when he conquered Everest in 2008, as the record holder.
But Mr Sherchan, now 81, is set to tackle the mountain again next week, the BBC reports.
Mr Miura began his final charge for the 8850-metre peak about 2am (local time), Japanese media reported and arrived at the summit some seven hours later.
"I made it!'' Mr Miura said, speaking to his family and supporters via satellite phone from the summit.
"I never imagined I could make it to the top of Mt Everest at age 80. This is the world's best feeling, although I'm totally exhausted. Even at 80, I can still do quite well.''
An extreme skier who once held a world speed-skiing record, Mr Miura broke his pelvis and left thigh in 2009 and has also had a number of heart operations.
