NORTH Yorkshire mountaineer Alan Hinkes has made it up the "chapati peak" which defeated him in unusual circumstances last year.

The Northallerton-born climber's previous attempt to scale Nanga Parbat in Pakistan failed when he suffered a severe back injury after sneezing on the flour of a chapati and had to be airlifted to safety.

Fully recovered, he returned this year and conquered the mountain, which is the ninth highest in the world. His feat was confirmed last night.

Speaking from the summit of the peak, nicknamed the Killer Mountain, Alan said he was "elated", adding: "I'm glad it's all over."

Alan aims to become the first British mountaineer to climb all of the world's peaks above 8,000 metres (about 26,000-ft) and has already reached the top of nine of them - including Everest and K2.

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