Tomás Gets High For The RNLI

Tomás on top of the world. Or thereabouts.

t’s a remarkable achievement for any adult, but for 15-year-old Tomás O’Connell to make it all the way to the Everest base camp is a little beyond belief.

Especially given that even his dad, Phelim, had to step back from the challenge, after getting hit with altitude sickness.

Just for a little perspective, we’re talking 5,364m above sea level – which is the altitude where you’re most likely to bump into a domestic commercial airline flight in Ireland.

The St David’s pupil took on this renowned challenge alongside his pops to raise funds for the RNLI in Kilmore Quay in County Wexford, stating, “My great grandfather, Jimmy Kehoe, was a station mechanic with Kilmore Quay RNLI, and was awarded a Thanks Of The Institution inscribed on vellum for his part in a dangerous rescue off the Saltee Islands 63 years ago. Jimmy was one of seven crew members on the Kilmore Quay lifeboat that day…”

It’s believed that Phelim may have been suffering the effects of long Covid as he began showing signs of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (a potentially fatal illness), forcing him to abandon the climb. The trek was part of an Earth’s Edge group with experienced expedition leader James McManus, and it was decided Tomás should continue under his supervision.

When news came back to Greystones that the teenager had made it to base camp whilst her husband had to turn back, mum Róisín O’Connell was both “proud and worried sick” at the same time. She was used to Phelim taking on tough challenges, such as sailing the Atlantic, but this was the first time one of her three sons had signed up for such an adventure.

Father and son are now safely back on home ground, with €2,398 for the RNLI raised so far, you can add to that total right here.