Rhys Jones, 19, from Cadnam, Hampshire, is flying to Nepal on Saturday to climb Everest - the final mountain in the Seven Summits Challenge.

"We will be fighting the unpredictable weather, avalanches and crevasses so we will need good luck," he said.

He hopes his attempt will raise �29,035 for the Wessex Heartbeat charity.

He has already climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska, aged 17, to become the youngest Briton to reach the top of that peak.

'Fantastic present'

The teenager has also scaled Kilimanjaro in Africa, Kosciusko in Australia, Aconcagua in South America, Elbrus in Russia and Vinson in Antarctica.

He will be part of a team called Jagged Globe trying to reach the top of Everest between 10 and 25 May.

"We will on it for the longest amount of time at 19,000 feet which can deteriorate the body quickly but it would be a fantastic birthday present on 17 May to be able to be at the top.

"What I like about climbing is the visual achievement.

"When you are at the bottom you think how am I going to do that?

"And even though it can be a dangerous situation, the views are great. I can unzip my tent and the scene is like out of an airplane window and you can see the curvature of the earth."

When he gets back more pressing problems will need to be surmounted.

"I am going to have to get a job and earn some money. After that there are plenty of unclimbed mountains," he said.