Mind and Body: British Army prepare to tackle Everest with the help of Leeds Beckett scientists.

Pictured: Leeds Beckett scientists prepare Army for Everest challenge

A TEAM of British Army soldiers are preparing to take on Mount Everest with the help of sport scientists, who are attempting to “kick-start” the body’s reaction to altitude.

Experts at Leeds Beckett University are putting the six soldiers and their team doctor through a pre-acclimatisation programme to help prepare them for the world’s most notorious mountaineering challenge.

The soldiers will depart from the UK later this month to attempt to climb the North Ridge route of Everest.

Leeds Beckett PhD student, Mark Cooke, is leading the research to test the effectiveness of pre-acclimation protocol and to try to enhance the chances of the team succeeding. “The point is to try to kick-start the body’s response to being exposed to altitude”, he said.

“I think that this training will make us feel more prepared going to altitude and this can save them time but also the symptoms of feeling unwell”, said Dr Kirsty Watson, the British Army doctor and reservist joining the expedition.

Warrant Officer Simon Naylor, Expedition Leader, believes the training, the last preparation before they leave, is also effective in boosting morale.