that they ’ d make it , and carry me with them . The door slammed shut and we span round to begin the descent to Kathmandu . As I stared out of the windows down for the last time at base camp the tears came , and did not stop until we reached the hospital .
As the helicopter landed atop the HAMS hospital in Kathmandu I felt back on familiar ground . Wheeled rapidly on a gurney through long corridors into a well equipped Accident and Emergency Department . I was wired up to monitors , bloods taken , Echocardiogram ( heart scan ) and CTPA ( A lung CT scan to look specifically for clots ) requested within the hour . The scan confirmed multiple pulmonary emboli and a few millimetres away from the pulmonary artery blocking completely , which would have meant me travelling home in the cargo hold as opposed to Economy class ( more leg room but the food not quite as good ). I spent three days in intensive care before moving onto a ward .
The care I received was exemplary , in some part , I believe due to the Nursing staff wanting to improve their English . They also wanted to visit England , see Big Ben , meet Taylor Swift and marry Harry Styles . I would love to have helped them there but sadly not within my gift as I tried repeatedly to explain !
Pulmonary emboli are blood clots in the lung . There are several risk factors for these , but in my case a combination of altitude ( blood gets thicker as you ascend in an attempt to improve oxygen delivery to the tissues ), dehydration , and a recently diagnosed genetic abnormality I have unfortunately inherited Factor V Leiden , increasing my chances of developing blood clots .
I would like to thank not only the hospital staff in Nepal but Drs Corless , Dasgupta and Newall , colleagues and friends at Arrowe Park Hospital that have been supervising my treatment since my return , and indeed providing support and invaluable advice during my time in hospital . Many friends sent such supportive messages . There are too many to mention individually but you know who you are . You kept my head above water during some dark days and I am eternally grateful . Finally my wife Anne , and children Mike , Becs , Anna and Kate . You were , and remain the main motivation I had to return and I love you more than you can ever know . So sorry for all I put you through .
The team made the summit , as you will have read on the previous pages . I had a sleepless night watching the gps tracker inching upwards until they summitted . More tears then , but tears of joy this time . Our reunion when they returned was an intensely emotional day and I am so proud of what they achieved . We ’ d always said that the marker of a successful expedition would be us all returning , regardless of Summit success . Of course I would have loved to have been with them but in some ways I felt I was there . I am still processing my personal disappointment but am becoming more reconciled as the days pass and I learn to appreciate what joys there are in family , friends and of course , future challenges and aspirations ! merseylife . com 25