Ronnie Richards

In the face of overwhelming odds, dwindling oxygen supplies, freezing Jet Stream winds, avalanche, frostbite, widespread public negativity and the press reporting that failure was almost inevitable - A British team succeeded - Where all others had failed. On the 24th September 1975 at 6pm, Doug Scott and Dougal Haston stood at 29,095 ft on the world's highest mountain. They were the very first Britons to do so - And it was many days before the world even knew. This is a story of great leadership, teamwork, bravery, determination, sacrifice, tragedy, emotional journeys and a remarkable outcome.

TV documentary of the 1975 British Expedition led by Chris Bonington up the South West Face of Everest. A band of cliffs on the southwest face, known as the Rock Band, had defeated five previous expeditions between 1969 and 1973. On September 20, Nick Estcourt and Paul Braithwaite achieved the first ascent of the Rock Band. The summit was reached by two teams: first on September 24 by Doug Scott and Dougal Haston, who survived the highest ever bivouac when they were benighted on the South Summit during their descent. On September 26 four more climbers attempted a second ascent. Peter Boardman and Sirdar Pertemba Sherpa were successful, but BBC cameraman Mick Burke, climbing alone after Martin Boysen turned back, failed to return from the summit.