U.S. Climber Tyler Andrews Sets Everest Speed Record With Oxygen

American climber Tyler Andrews set a new speed record on Mount Everest on Thursday using supplementary oxygen, his team told AFP. Andrews, 36, of Concord, Massachusetts, reached the 29,032-foot summit in 9 hours and 55 minutes, one hour faster than the previous mark of 10 hours and 56 minutes held since 2003 by Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa.

The time must still be verified by Nepal's mountain authorities. Andrews summited just before dawn, according to GPS tracking shared on his Instagram account.

Team leader Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking told AFP that Andrews completed the climb solo while guides supplied oxygen, food and water. Andrews had earlier attempted to break the 22-hour-29-minute record without supplementary oxygen but turned back.

Andrews, a cancer survivor, told CBS Boston last month that he has trained as an athlete from high school cross country through marathons and mountain running.

More than 950 climbers have reached the summit this season. Five people have died on Everest this year, compared with 18 deaths in 2023. Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa, who reached the summit for a record 32nd time earlier this month, returned to Kathmandu on Friday and told reporters the mountain felt more crowded than last year.

" — Kami Rita Sherpa, May 2026 (CBS News) Pictures posted by climbers showed long queues on fixed ropes in the high-altitude zones. Andrews is raising funds for youth athletes in Ecuador and Nepal.