Man completes 'brutal' climb in memory of army son

A man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in memory of his son said the experience was "brutal".

Efrem Brynin, from Pulborough, West Sussex, scaled Africa's highest peak with 19 others to raise funds and awareness for the StrongMen bereavement charity.

His son James was killed in the war in Afghanistan in 2013.

Mr Brynin told BBC Radio Sussex it was "a humbling experience".

He said: "The conditions were particularly difficult when we did it, we had people on oxygen, we had people passing out. There was a particular lack of oxygen up towards to the summit.

"You set off at midnight so you're in the pitch black for six hours just following the headtorch in front of you.

"People were falling asleep because of the lack of oxygen, people were being sick and having to take extra breaks, it was brutal.

"We went up about 1,000m (3,280 ft) every day, on the final day you go up 1,000m to get to the maximum altitude, which is just below 6,000m (19,685ft).

"It's a spiritual part of the world and it's a spiritual thing to climb a mountain, you're closer to heaven."

StrongMen, which was co-founded by Mr Brynin, aims to support men following bereavement.

The aim of the climb was to raise £40,000.

"Whilst we were away we had 20 people contact us for support," said Mr Brynin.

"That costs us about £1,000 per person to give someone 12 counselling sessions.

"To take a person for a weekend in Snowdon costs around £500 per person, and with the constant increase in costs in terms of staff and fuel it's an ever spinning plate that we're trying to spin faster and faster."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article you can visit the BBC's Action Line for information and support on bereavement.

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