First British Muslim climbs Mount Everest

Akke Rahman has become the first British Muslim to climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, saying he is exhilarated at making the accomplishment.

Rahman, 39, who is from Oldham, said he achieved the mission of his life.

He told Channel S TV: “I just couldn’t believe that I was on top of the world. It was just so difficult, I was exhausted, but I knew I had to complete this mission. The weather was extremely cold, windy and rough. You cannot predict what will happen in a split second.”

While climbing towards Mount Everest, Akke and his team saved the life of another mountaineer who was running out of oxygen.

“It was a guy called Les,” Rahman said. “He was from a different group where we got to know him. He ran out of oxygen at 7,800 meters. We had to stick together. I just said to the guys we have to share the oxygen… I don’t care how we get down. We have to get down to Camp 2 at 6,400 meters where we will be ok. Praise be to God, we brought him down safely.”

Farhan Masud Khan, Head of Programs at Channel S Television who managed Akke Rahman’s Peak Humanity campaign, said, “Akke made us all proud.”

Prior to his Mount Everest campaign, Rahman had already set a UK record time after climbing Mount Elbrus – Europe’s highest peak which stands 5,642 meters above sea level in Russia within 24 hours, and only five days after recovering from coronavirus.

He also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Blanc, the highest mountains of Africa and the Alps respectively.