Nottinghamshire woman from Fiskerton rescued from Kala Pattar, Himalayan mountain in Nepal
A couple climbed and trekked three mountains to raise funds in memory of a loved one.
Vicky and Kevin Osbon, 58, of Fiskerton climbed and trekked Cho La Pass – 5,367m, Everest Base Camp- 5,364m and Kala Pattar – 5,550m to raise funds for Stroke Association.
The couple raised £6,280 in memory of Vicky’s mother who suddenly died from a stroke.
Kevin, a high-altitude climber main role was to encourage and support his partner who had never shown any interest in climbing mountains but wanted to take on a real challenge.
Vicky had to overcome several fears including crossing several high level rope bridges, including the Hillary Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world.
Vicky cried, shook, and reached exhaustion levels but was rewarded by having the opportunity of wearing crampons and experiencing for the first time trekking on a glacier.
Vicky and Kevin had hoped to carry on and conquer a 6,000 metre mountain, however, the Team Leader and Medical Team intervened after climbing Kala Pattar and told her that the adventure was over.
Vicky was suffering from altitude sickness and inability to eat enough food due to nausea, general exhaustion meant it was too dangerous for her with her asthma to venture any higher.
She was treated up the mountain and a helicopter was arranged to carry her down the mountain as quickly as possible, accompanied by her husband.
“I have never been so exhausted in my entire life, I never appreciated just how thin the air is high up and how your body has to work twice as hard as normal every day trekking, my nausea and inability to eat and take on fuel surprised me and the extreme cold dropping as low a minus twenty degrees made me appreciate my high altitude sleeping bag and how difficult it was to get out of it every day and trek/climb for eight to twelve hours,” said Mrs Osbon.
She added: “It was much tougher than I ever imagined and I'm so grateful to my husband Kevin for patiently cajoling me along throughout the adventure, making me laugh and appreciate the challenge and incredible views, I can now see why he has loved climbing for over 20 years but you won't find me venturing this high ever again, way too hard'.
When she arrived in Kathmandu, she slept for three days solid as part of her recovery.
If you would like to support the couple’s fundraising you can donate at http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Kevin-osbon.
Kevin’s company Focus Consultation donated £1,250, the Osbon and Slaughter families over £1,000 collectively and the Oakmere Golf Club Seniors group donated more than £600 collectively.
