Alan Hinkes has already climbed Everest and K2

The Northallerton-born climber had to be airlifted to safety in the Himalayas after becoming seriously ill.

At one point he thought he had contracted the Sars virus but it turned out to be bronchitis.

It was Mr Hinkes' second attempt at Mount Kanchenchunga - last time he fell and broke his arm.

Now recovering in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, Mr Hinkes said: "All was going well - I had got to 4,000m."

He then developed what he thought was a respiratory problem.

Chapatti injury

"I couldn't stop coughing. I thought I was dying. I thought it was Sars at first but it was serious bronchitis."

Mr Hinkes began his quest in 1987, under the banner of Challenge 8000.

He has completed 12 of his challenging climbs, including Mount Everest and K2.

In 1997 he hit the headlines when he sneezed on a flour-coated chapatti on Nanga Parbat, and injured a disc in his back.

He was trapped on the mountain for 10 days before descending and returned to climb the mountain later the same year.

Mr Hinkes says he will probably attempt Kanchenchunga for the third time in the autumn.