Sir Ranulph Fiennes abandons Everest

The multi-million-pound charity climb was the adventurer's second unsuccessful attempt at scaling the mountain. He suffered a heart attack just 300 metres from the top in 2005.

Having set off from base camp on Tuesday, Sir Ranulph had reached the final stopping off point in the ascent after traversing the "death zone", but had to turn back before reaching the 8,850 metre summit.

The 64-year-old explorer, who recently underwent an operation for prostate cancer, had to contend with heart problems and vertigo.

Sir Ranulph's other feats include reaching both poles, and crossing the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans.