Temba Tseri is one very tough, courageous and kick-butt dude. He makes Ray Lewis and The Rock look like pansies. On May 22, 2001, 15 year-old Temba became the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest - the world's highest mountain.
Only about 1,000 people have ever made it to the top of Everest and more than 160 have died trying. Temba's trip is made even more amazing by what the eighth-grader went through last year while attempting to conquer the highest peak. In June, 2000, Temba was less than 70 feet (22 meters) from the top of Everest when he had to turn back because of bad weather. He was also tired and badly frostbitten. This wasn't just some sissy case of frostbite like the kind your whiny, little brother gets. Temba's hands were so badly damaged that doctors had to amputate (cut off) three fingers on his right hand and another two on his left hand.
Now, most people would give up on climbing Everest if the mountain took away five of their fingers - but not Temba. No way. He looked Mr. Everest in the face and went right at him. This time Temba, minus five fingers, made it to the top. By reaching the 29,028 foot (8850 meter) peak, Temba broke the 27 year-old record set by Shambhu Tamang who conquered Everest back in 1974 at the age of 17. Other 14 and 15 year-olds have also tried to make it to the top in recent years but have all had to give up because of exhaustion, injuries or not enough oxygen.
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To find out more about climbing Everest, head to www.everestnews.com or www.mnteverest.net.
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