A North Yorkshire man who climbed Everest last month could now become the first handicapped person in space, it was reported today.

Outdoor pursuits instructor Tom Whittaker, who wears an artificial leg below his right knee, has been asked by NASA if he is interested in space travel.

Mr Whittaker, 50, said to be originally from York, but now living in Arizona, became the first amputee to climb Everest when he reached its summit late last month. He said that after climbing the world's highest mountain, space seemed "the logical thing to do next", a national newspaper reported today.

Mr Whittaker had travelled to the US with the vision of becoming a professional mountaineer, but after a head-on car crash with a drunk driver in 1979, he had another huge mountain to climb.

With multiple fractures of both legs and severe injuries to his feet and knees, doctors decided to remove his right kneecap and amputate his right foot.

But he did not let his disability end his dreams.

Mr Whittaker founded the Co-operative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group in America. He is now a professor in adventure education at Prescott College, Arizona, where he teaches skiiing, kayaking, rock climbing, caving and leadership skills.

He conquered the world's highest peak in May this year as part of the Adventure Everest programme, an initiative designed to stimulate determination and pursuing dreams, and with the aid of a revolutionary prosthetic foot.

He was accompanied as far as base camp by members of his handicapped outdoor group.

The climb follows an unsuccessful attempt in 1995, when he reached 27,500 feet on the rocky North Face of Everest. He had to abort the effort after oxygen supplies began to run low.

He was approached by NASA, eager to offer him the chance to become the first handicapped person in space, following his Everest achievement.

His bravery and determination is summed up in a quote used by Adventure Everest '98.

He said: "Everest for me, and I believe for the world, is the physical and symbolic manifestation of overcoming odds to achieve a dream."

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