An eight year-old boy from Caithness has become the youngest climber ever to reach the peak of the Old Man of Hoy sea stack.
Edward Mills, of Dunnet, set himself the personal challenge of climbing the 450ft stack off the cast of Orkney, to raise money for the charity Climbers Against Cancer in honour of his mother, who has terminal breast cancer.
Edward, alongside elite Bristol climbers Ben West and Cailean Harker, began climbing the mound at about noon on Saturday and reached the top at 4.55pm.
This staggering feat is the biggest accomplishment for the young climber to date.
Edward snatched the title from Ollie Buckle of Flax Bourton near Bristol, who was 10 when he conquered the stack in 2016.
Proud mum Bekki Christian said: “Edward found the first steps the hardest. Getting started on something that he has been anticipating for so long, with nerves and anxiety and pressure. Once he got going he said it got easier.
“He liked the rock. He said it was quite smooth and didn’t hurt his hands.”
In February this year, Ms Christian was told that she wouldn’t see her son attempt the climb due to her deteriorating health.
However, she defied the odds and saw him achieve his goal by sailing past on a ferry travelling from Scrabster to Stromness.
She added: “I am so proud of him. Proud of the way that he focused on just getting his head down and doing it.
“And I am grateful to him, wanting to see him do this has given me purpose over the last few months as my health has declined.
“I know that he is doing it for me. That feels really so very special.”
Since launching his online appeal, the youngster has so far raised £23,092 for charity surpassing his initial £10,000 target, with donations continuing to flood in by the minute.
Last year, Edward made his debut at the BMC Youth Climbing Series, making it to the Group E finals in Ratho, Edinburgh. This year, the young athlete has reclaimed his place earning him a spot on the Scotland young climbing team.
