Stephen's at his peak on top of Mount Everest

A YOUNG graduate has achieved his lifelong ambition after conquering Mount Everest - a year after he had to abort an attempt just 150 metres from the summit.

Stephen Green, 24, was forced to withdraw from his climb last June after two of his three oxygen cylinders ran empty.

But the determined law and economics graduate vowed to return and complete his dream of reaching the summit.

Mr Green, from Newington, first decided to scale the world's highest peak in memory of his father Raymond, who died from bowel cancer three years ago.

He has raised more than 8000 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie, whose Edinburgh hospice provided essential care to his father in the weeks before his death.

Mr Green reached the summit at 3.15am yesterday.

His mother Daphne Green said she was informed about her son's success by Adventure Peaks, the expedition organisers. She said: "He has achieved a 12-year-old ambition.

"I would imagine he would have felt very much like his dad did when he was climbing the stairs in the later stages of his life when he was very ill.

"He used to say it felt like he was climbing Everest so I'm sure Stephen would be able to empathise with that.

"He was so close to doing it last time - only 150 metres away - so he will be delighted that he's finally been able to do it this time."

Mr Green, a former George Watson's College pupil, first started climbing when he was young when his father took him to an indoor climbing wall.

From then on it became his dream to climb Everest.

After he failed to reach the summit last year, Mr Green helped save the lives of two unconscious climbers on his way down.

He was left stranded on the edge of the mountain's lethal Second Step for more than an hour, until his team was able to reach him.

After being rescued, he and team-mate Brendan Maloney came across two unconscious men and helped them to safety.

After everyone was safe, Mr Green attempted again to get to the top, but was forced to spend a night alone near the summit after severe weather moved in.

Mr Green has also climbed Ama Dablam in the Himalayas, which is 6812 metres high, and Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps.

Expedition firm Adventure Peaks posted details of the summit on its website, adding: "Congratulations to the team and we wish them a safe journey down."

Go to stephengreen.net to donate.