Children to be tested in Himalayas at 11,500ft

Children are to undergo physical tests at an altitude of 11,483ft in the Himalayas for research into intensive care treatment.

A group of 12 children aged eight to 16 years set off on Wednesday to trek from Lukla to Namche Bazaar in Nepal, and will be tested for physiological changes at high altitude, where there is less oxygen in the air.

Dr Mark Peters, intensive care consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital who is leading the children’s expedition, said: “The testing we are doing is a world first.

“We want to describe the physiology of kids who do well at low oxygen levels, to then apply that knowledge to treat patients in intensive care.

“We know tissue dies when it doesn’t get enough oxygen, but we also know too much oxygen can be damaging.

“We hope our findings will help us optimise the delivery of oxygen to patients in a critical condition.”