A Cotswold mountaineer who went on to climb Mount Everest a record number of times despite once being told he would never walk unaided has been nominated for a bravery award.
Earlier this year Kenton Cool, from Bibury, became the first non-Nepali person to summit the 29,032ft peak 16 times.
The 48-year-old's achievement is made all the more remarkable by the fact he shattered both heel bones in a rock-climbing accident in 1996.
Although he underwent a year of surgery and therapy, and still suffers chronic pain, he has defied doctors' predictions and gone on to be guides for the likes of Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Ben Fogle.
Kenton has now reached the final 10 selection stage in the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2022 in the Against All Odds category.
The award is for a member of the public who has overcome adversity to take on an exceptional challenge, and he reached the selection stage out of around 50 nominations chosen by the public from around the UK.
Speaking after his latest climb Kenton said: “I think I’ve got a few more Everests left.
"I’m not going to say exactly how many because I’m not sure.
"The Sherpa team we work with, they are the guys that make it possible,” he said.
“The humility those guys have is unbelievable, and I try to bring a little bit of that home with me.
“We do need to respect nature and the power she has. Because if Mount Everest wants to, she will extinguish life in a click of a finger.
“It is a very dangerous place to be despite all the experience and understanding that we have – we are grappling and wrestling with forces of nature.”
“But I will certainly keep returning to the country long after I hang up my boots for climbing Everest.”
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Four finalists will be selected in each category and the winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 11.
Falklands War hero Simon Weston chairs the judging panel and BBC TV and radio presenter Rachel Burden will make the awards.
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