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American climber Tyler Andrews shattered the speed record for ascending Mount Everest with supplementary oxygen on Thursday, a milestone confirmed by his team to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Andrews reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain an hour quicker than the previous record-holder.
At 36, Andrews accomplished the 8,849-meter climb in a remarkable 9 hours and 55 minutes, decisively surpassing the 10-hour and 56-minute record set by Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa back in 2003.
However, his impressive feat awaits official validation from Nepal’s mountain authorities.
According to his Instagram updates, which featured real-time GPS tracking, Andrews reached Everest’s summit just before dawn on Thursday.
“He achieved Everest’s peak in an astonishing 9 hours and 55 minutes,” shared Dawa Steven Sherpa, team leader from Asian Trekking, with AFP.
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The Asian Trekking team said that Andrews completed a solo climb, during which guides provided supplementary oxygen, food and water while tracking his ascent.
He had initially tried to break the 22 hours and 29 minutes speed record to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen earlier in May, but had to turn back.
Andrews, who said he is a cancer survivor, is raising funds to support youth athletes who lack access to coaching and equipment in Ecuador and Nepal.
Andrews completes his summit days after Melbourne teenager Bianca Adler became the youngest Australian to ever summit the famous mountain.
More than 950 climbers have reached the top of Everest this season, with the weather window rapidly coming to a close.
Five people have died this season — two Indians and three Nepali climbers involved in Everest preparations.
That compares to the 18 people who died in 2023, the deadliest season on the mountain.
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