SIX Britons have completed their bid for a new world record for the highest altitude formal dinner.
But a Huddersfield man who joined the amazing bid was beaten by altitude sickness.
Tom Bottomley, 35, formerly of Kirkburton, was one of three climbers forced to abandon the bid.
The team did manage to eat a five-course meal in a spectacular setting.
The group, most of whom grew up together in Forest Row, East Sussex, carried tables, chairs, silver cutlery and a five-course meal to the summit of the 7,045metre (23,113ft) Lhakpa Ri mountain in Tibet, said leader Henry Shelford.
Hurricane-strength winds forced them to descend to a more sheltered point at 6,805 metres (22,326ft), to hold the formal dinner.
The team, which included one Australian, is expecting official confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records in the next few days. Mr Shelford, 30, described the team as "novice climbers".
He added: "It's all wonderfully surreal now, but I can still remember a lot of the pain.
"It was incredibly difficult. Every effort leaves you panting, struggling for every breath.
"My lungs felt like red balls of steel at one point, but I'm glad we made it. You start tucking in to the food and think `This is actually very nice'."
Mr Shelford said he came up with the idea in a bid to raise money for the British Lung Foundation. So far, more than £25,000 has been raised.
The five-course meal included a starter of caviar, followed by duck, couscous and vegetables. A third course of chocolate bombe with chocolate sauce was followed by Cheddar, Stilton and biscuits, with Fortnum and Mason's birthday cake to finish - all with Australian wine.
The team began the attempt on April 10 and the meal was eaten on May 3.
