High points on top of the world

First to reach the summit Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, 29 May 1953

First woman Junko Tabei, from Japan, 16 May 1975

Oldest climber 70-year-old Yuichiro Miura, from Japan, 22 May 2003

First amputee Tom Whittaker, who has an artificial leg, 27 May 1998

First solo ascent Italian Reinhold Messner, 20 August 1980

First ascent without oxygen Messner and Austrian Peter Habeler, 8 May 1978

Fastest ascent Sherpa Pemba Dorjie, in 12 hours 45 minutes on Friday

Most climbs Apa Sherpa, from Nepal, made his twelfth ascent on 16 May 2002

Most deaths in a year 15, in 1996

First live TV broadcast from summit Zhaxi Ciren, Awang Luobo and Nima Ciren for China's state-run Central Television, 21 May 2003

Altitude record for extreme ironing Brits John Roberts and Ben Gibbons ironed a Union flag on the Everest Ice Fall at 17,800ft (5,440m) in April 2003