A TEENAGER from York Sea Cadets has returned from an amazing expedition to the Himalayas – and immediately set off on a voyage around Scotland.

Declan Rogers, of Chapel Haddlesey, near Selby , told yesterday of the tough, four-week mountain trek which took him to heights of almost 6,000 metres above sea level.

The 16-year-old, who formerly attended Holy Family School in Carlton, was among 19 cadets and six adult instructors from across Yorkshire and the Humber who were chosen to take part in the expedition.

He said: “It was great. It was an amazing experience. I had thought of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but unfortunately I have caught the bug and want to do it again.

“It was a tough challenge, but Nepal is a beautiful and friendly country.”

He said three cadets and two adults suffered such bad altititude sickness that they had to be evacuated by helicopter, but he had only suffered a few headaches and also kept his appetite when others were losing theirs.

“We reached about 5,500 metres, or about 18,000 feet, and and only had 50 per cent of the oxygen we should have had.

“We had to acclimatise to the altitude slowly, and would each day climb 1,000 metres and then come down again.

“We would set off after breakfast at 7am and often not finish until 5pm.”

He said they had caught glimpses of Everest when it appeared from behind the clouds, but had never seen it for long enough to stand there and stare in amazement at the scene.

He said that after returning to Britain, he had swiftlly set off on an eight-day voyage around the west coast of Scotland on a tall ship called Lord Nelson.

He said after recently gaining 12 GCSEs, he had now left school to take on an apprenticeship in Southampton to become a deck officer in the Merchant Navy.