The prospect of standing on top of the world inspired a Surbiton teenager’s world record breaking climb up Everest.

Talking to the Surrey Comet after a gruelling journey up the world’s highest mountain, 17-year-old George Atkinson said he will not be tackling another 8,000m peak any time soon.

When he reached the top days before his 17th birthday, George became the youngest person ever to complete the Seven Summits challenge – which involves climbing the tallest peaks in each continent.

He said: “I was elated because it was the culmination of years of work and I had achieved my dream.

“It was fantastic looking down on the rest of the world and looking back along the path we had travelled.”

His last push to the top on April 26 took an exhausting nine-and-a-half hours and his journey after arriving at the foot of Everest on April 15 was an emotional one at times.

He said there were many times when he thought about turning back, but his love of climbing kept him going, with the prospect of a world record a mere “bonus”.

The former Surbiton High Boys' Preparatory School pupil said: “The physical effort was extreme and the emotional strain. I just told myself over and over that after this all my hard work would have paid off.”

He said he missed friends and family most during breaks for the weather and rest days, compounded by problems with his phone which made it difficult for him to contact home.

Mix-ups with Orange meant he was unable to phone his parents Penny and Mark to share his amazing feat when he reached the top.

But his dangerous descent took his mind off it, with his tiredness making it particularly dangerous, and the toughest part of the trip.

After seeing memorials for climbers who had lost their lives, on the way up, he was already well aware of the risks.

He said: “The memorials were a scary prospect for me but I just told myself that as long as I did things right, I would be OK. It does remind you to be careful.”

After touching down on home soil on Friday George was looking forward to running water, home comforts, and his own bed, but he has not hung up his climbing boots just yet.

He said: “I don't think I will be heading for another 8000m peak again soon and I have no big challenges planned in the meantime.

“But there are mountains that do attract me and I may want to climb one day.”