A Suffolk man has described how completing a Mount Everest challenge for charity was the"‘toughest thing I have ever done". 

James Scott, 56, who runs Southwold coffee shop Nine Deli, fulfilled his partner Lisa Partridge’s ambition to reach base camp, some 5,500m up Everest, the world’s highest mountain above sea level. 

However, 56-year-old nurse Ms Partridge had been unable to undertake the expedition for personal reasons. 

But Mr Scott found the climb at the end of October physically gruelling, especially as the route was not the usual tourist trail and involved walking through glaciers and up rock faces. 

East Anglian Daily Times: James Scott travelled to Everest base campJames Scott travelled to Everest base camp (Image: James Scott)

In addition, the former soldier had to battle wildly fluctuating temperatures, which could drop as low as –20C at night, but rise to over 20C during the day when the sun shone. 

He said: “It is the toughest thing I have ever done. I have been in the military and done a few marathons, but it knocked the stuffing out of me. It was pretty hardcore. 

“I did very little training before I set off, but it was a lot more demanding than I expected.” 

He travelled in a group of 26 who were visiting either to raise money for charity or for personal reasons, but six had to drop out due to altitude sickness. 

Hygiene was also an issue as the nighttime cold froze the water pipes, making showers very difficult. 

However, he has smashed his £1,000 fundraising target for Southwold-based Sole Bay Care Fund, so far collecting £2,215. 

The fund is for patients at Sole Bay Health Centre at Reydon and provides care and resources not routinely funded by the NHS and aims to keep patients at home or as near to home as possible by providing them with the support and equipment they need. 

“We are still raising money and there are still opportunities for Southwold businesses if they want to give us a bit of sponsorship,” he added. 

Now the former soldier in the 16 Signal Regiment is looking forward to his next challenge- leading the Southwold Christmas Day swim. 

Despite feeling exhausted, Mr Scott said: “I have got some brilliant memories of my trip. The views were awesome and I did some things that I have never done before such as using crampons (a spiked footwear device) to walk over glaciers. 

“However, I would recommend that anyone wanting to do it should be running at least two half marathons a week to ensure they are in peak fitness.” 

A gofundme page has been set up to raise money for the charity.