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Everest hero spurns glory to save rival's life

Beatriz Ayala
28/ 5/2004

A NORDEN climber gave up the chance of setting a record to save the life of a rival.

Richard Taylor, a 22-year-old student, was attempting to become the youngest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

But as he and five colleagues were camped out close to the peak while waiting for the weather to break before making the final assault, they came across a group in a very poor state and in danger of collapse moving in the opposite direction.

Despite months of preparation, Richard and his pals immediately decided to abandon their attempt and help the other group to reach base camp.

In the previous week a total of six climbers had lost their lives due to treacherous weather conditions and high winds.

Once the two parties reached safety, they discovered political unrest in Kathmandu meant they were unable to leave the country for two days because of a strike.

Jean Taylor, Richard's mother, said: "Richard's only aim was to get to the Everest summit and being the youngest Briton to do it was a bonus."

"There was another young man who set off three days after Richard who is five months younger, so Richard would have only held the record for three days, anyway."

"Even though it was a case of so near yet so far, he absolutely made the right decision and there could have been more deaths without the team's help."

"I'm sure there will be other attempts in the future and as I've told Richard before, the mountain's not going anywhere."

Mrs Taylor admits she has not slept properly since her son set off for his adventure and said her heart stopped when checking the Everest website last week to find the news of multiple deaths on the screen.

But the proud mother is determined not to stop her son, who has taken a gap year while studying for a degree in architecture, from tackling the worlds tallest mountain again.

"No mother can say she relishes her son climbing Everest, but all the team are coming back alive and I firmly believe in letting someone follow their dreams."

"I'm hoping he can catch a flight out before his birthday on June 6 so we can give him a party to remember."