HAMPSHIRE adventurer Rhys Jones has paid his own tribute after the death of one of the world's greatest mountaineers.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest, died after a heart attack in New Zealand.

The 88-year old shot to fame when he scaled the world's highest mountain along with Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Rhys, 21, was the youngest person to climb the highest peaks of the world's seven continents, finishing on his 20th birthday when he stood on the summit of Mount Everest in the Himalayas.

Speaking from his home in Bartley, in the New Forest, Rhys said Sir Edmund was an inspiration to him as he contemplated his challenge.

He said: "I can't help but think how brave he was looking across the final rock of Mount Everest knowing that no one had climbed it before. He must have been standing there more than 50 years ago looking at Hillary Step and thought 'Jesus that's steep'.

"I think it's difficult for anyone contemplating climbing Mount Everest not to read about him. He's been an inspiration to a lot of people.

"Before you get to the top of Everest there's a 40ft piece of rock called Hillary Step that was named after him. It's near vertical and that is regarded as the last real obstacle in climbing the mountain. He was the first person to climb up it and it must have been very scary when he was looking up at it."

A spokesman for Sir Edmund's family said there would be a state funeral but a date would not be set until family members had returned from overseas. The funeral will be broadcast on television.