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5-year-old becomes youngest Singaporean to conquer Everest base camp through ‘hard work and faith’

  • Abyan Imtiaz Irkiz, 5, has become the youngest Singaporean to reach the Mount Everest base camp, completing the feat with his father, Zikri Ali, on Monday
  • Before this, the youngest Singaporean to reach Everest base camp was Om Madan Garg, a six-year-old boy who did so in October 2022

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Zikri Ali and his son Abyan at Mount Everest base camp on April 29. Photo: Instagram/abyan.irkiz

At just five years old, Abyan Imtiaz Irkiz has become the youngest Singaporean to reach Mount Everest base camp.

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Abyan achieved the feat with his father, Zikri Ali, 41, on Monday – two days earlier than they had planned.

It took the pair eight days to reach the base camp, which sits at an altitude of 5.36km above sea level. It serves as a home base for mountaineers attempting to climb Mount Everest in Nepal.

The father and son duo, who have been documenting their journey on an Instagram account under the handle “abyan.irkiz”, recalled the six gruelling months of training that led to this moment.

“All the sweat, tears, and dedication over the last six months, including training during Ramadan, have led to this incredible achievement,” they wrote in an Instagram post.
Zikri Ali and his son Abyan at the Mount Everest base camp on April 29. Photo: Instagram/abyan.irkiz
Zikri Ali and his son Abyan at the Mount Everest base camp on April 29. Photo: Instagram/abyan.irkiz

It was accompanied by a picture of the pair holding up a Singapore flag before a signboard welcoming visitors to Everest base camp.

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