Dying Sheffield Wednesday fan conquers Everest and fulfils charity pledge to plant Sheffield United flag at summit
Ian Toothill believes he's the first cancer patient to scale the world's highest mountain
A DYING Sheffield Wednesday fan has conquered Everest and fulfilled his promise to plant a SHEFFIELD UTD flag at the summit.
Ian Toothill - who has just months to live - believes he's the first cancer patient to scale the world's highest mountain.
The 47-year-old personal trainer has raised almost £31,500 for Macmillan and he planted his football rival's flag after a friend donated £1,000.
He tweeted: "Nothing to see here, just some cancer dude [Sheffield Wednesday] fan on the summit of Everest with a @SUFC_tweets flag."
Mr Toothill, originally from Sheffield, lives in Willesden Green in London and has climbed in the Himalayas before.
He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2015 and told in early 2016 that he had beaten the disease, but later found out it had returned.
He has since been told he has "just several months left to live".
Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield in February, he said: "I'm determined to prove anything is possible."
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He reached the top of the North Col route on 16 May and the summit of 8,848m Everest on Monday.
Mr Toothill was accompanied part-way of the climb by Leslie Binns, from Rotherham, who abandoned his summit attempt last year to save the life of a fellow climber.
The former soldier turned around to save Sunita Hazra, an Indian woman, who was scaling the summit near him.
Writing on his , Mr Toothill said: "I'm determined to prove anything is possible, no matter what your situation.
"I also want to inspire anyone living with cancer to go and do that special thing they've always wanted to do. Of course, that thing might not be climbing a mountain. It could be finishing that book you've always said you would write, learning a new skill, or taking that dream trip.
"I've previously climbed in the Himalayas for three months, and I've walked across Iceland, solo and unsupported.
"Climbing Mt Everest would be the pinnacle of my adventures, as it's been a dream since I was a child, and on my bucket list as an adult."