An 80-year-old from Japan has become the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Yuichiro Miura has managed to scale up the highest peak on earth – shattering the previous record set by a 76-year-old in 2008.

The Japanese mountaineer overtakes Nepal’s Min Bahadur Sherchan with this effort, but is due to face competition imminently as the now 81-year-old Mr. Sherchan vows to beat the record next week.

Mr. Miura was able to reach the top of the 29,035-foot (8,850-metre) mountain last week – making it his third successful climb. On reaching the top, he exclaimed: “I made it!” to his family through a satellite phone at Everest’s summit.

He continued: “I never imagined I could make it to the top of Mt Everest at age 80. This is the world’s best feeling, although I’m totally exhausted. Even at 80, I can still do quite well.”

Miura is an extreme skier and this marks just one of the daring challenges he’s put himself through over the years. He managed to reach the top of Everest last Thursday at 2am.

The attempt is said to be even more significant as Mr. Miura broke his pelvis in 2009 and has had serveral heart operations over the years.

Speaking on the delight of his achievement through his website, he said: “If the limit of age 80 is at the summit of Mt. Everest, the highest place on earth, one can never be happier.”