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May 22, 2026
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British Climber Kenton Cool Sets Record with 20th Everest Summit

AI Summary
British climber Kenton Cool, 52, has set a new record by summiting Mount Everest for the 20th time, becoming the first non-Nepali climber to achieve this feat.

The Record-Breaking Summit

A 52-year-old British climber, Kenton Cool, has set a new record as he summited Mount Everest for a 20th time. Cool became the first non-Nepali climber to conquer the world’s highest peak 20 times before dawn on Friday.

Cool's Achievement and Its Significance

Cool is expected to reach the base camp over the weekend after his latest summit. In a statement carried by the Reuters news agency, he said climbing Mount Everest never gets “any easier or any less frightening. It’s the tallest mountain in the world and with it comes an incredible sense of majesty.

“I rely on every bit of experience ⁠I have to move safely in this environment. Standing on the summit for the twentieth time is incredibly special.”

The Data Behind the Record

  • Kenton Cool's 20th Everest summit
  • First non-Nepali climber to achieve this feat
  • Cool's first Everest summit was in 2004
  • He has taken an expedition almost every year since then

The Impact on Everest Climbing

Cool’s achievement follows on the heels of another record. On Wednesday, more than 270 climbers ascended via Nepal’s southern route, the most in a single day. That came amid calls for action to prevent overcrowding and improve safety.

Two Indian climbers were reported on Friday to have reached the peak, but to have died during their descent after they “fell ill”, Nivesh Karki, director at Pioneer Adventure, told the AFP news agency.

Authorities are trying to bring the bodies down from the summit. Officials said the incident brings the death toll during this Everest season to five.

The Future of Everest Climbing

Kami Rita Sherpa, or “Everest Man” climbed the summit for the 32nd time – extending the world record – on Sunday. He expressed concern about the experience of climbers, saying, “The government should regulate this a bit. They should let in only climbers of quality; there should be a limit.”