AN ADVENTURE travel company has been criticised amid claims it put the health of trekkers to Everest Base Camp at risk during a recent charity trip.

Three fundraisers for the Meningitis Trust have criticised Far Frontiers, which is based in Ampney Crucis, for their management of a trek last month.

They say not one of them received proper medical attention on the mountain when they were suffering from the potentially life-threatening altitude sickness also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS).

But the company's managing director Chris Short has defended the criticism and says the safety of his clients is of paramount importance.

He also says the vast majority of people on the trek enjoyed the trip.

Mr Short personally led the expedition and is a qualified mountain first aider. He said he was carrying a full medical kit and back-up drugs as well as a satellite phone for emergencies.

He added: "We take seriously any comments that we did not execute our responsibilities on this trip.

"Far Frontiers has also received no written complaint about the Everest trek from any participant or the Meningitis Trust."

Ken Skehan, from Ashton Keynes, was one of those taking part.

He said: "When some of the trekkers were taken ill with altitude sickness they say they did not receive appropriate medical advice.

"I was taken ill while walking up to a scheduled overnight stop and a Sherpa's opinion was that I should descend to a lower altitude immediately."

Yesterday the Meningitis Trust confirmed that it had stopped using Far Frontiers only in part because of Mr Skehan's complaints.

Spokesman Karen Baxter said: "It is fair to say that Mr Skehan's concerns did play a part in our decision to change supplier.

"But it is important to note that the majority of participants on the recent Everest Trek had a wonderful experience, and for this reason, we would not wish to criticise Far Frontiers as a travel company."

The two other trekkers who have criticised Far Frontiers also say they suffered from altitude sickness and breathing difficulties.

Andrew Stafford said he feared for his life after reporting to Mr Short that he had severe asthmatic problems whenever he tried to walk uphill.

He said: "I was scared stiff I was going to have a heart attack."

Nevertheless, Mr Short, who is an experienced expedition leader, says at no time during the trip did he shirk his responsibilities.

In a letter to the Standard he answered all claims of any alleged mismanagement in detail.

A statement from the company said: "Mr Stafford was keen to complete the trek. He had a history of asthma and spoke to the expedition leader one morning to say he wanted to go back.

"This was a sensible decision and it was agreed that he would turn back with Mr Skehan - accompanied by a popular Sherpa. He was fine when he left the group and we cannot comment on his condition after he reached Kathmandu.

"This was the 20th expedition to Nepal for Chris Short. He has extensive experience of leading groups at altitude and has done so professionally for 13 years, spending four to five months a year on expedition.

"He is fully conversant with the symptoms of AMS and has a lot of experience of dealing with the condition."