12-year-old Coralie Bradnam turns back from tackling Mt Everest

IN 2016 she became the youngest Australian to climb Mt Kilimanjaro — earlier this month she hoped to make it to Mt Everest Base Camp.

YOUNG mountain climber Coralie Bradnam says she isn’t fazed by having to turn back from her Everest climb.

Miss Bradnam, who at aged 10 became the youngest Australian to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, hoped to make it to Mt Everest Base Camp this month.

Coralie Bradnam isn’t giving up that easy, after altitude sickness forced her to turn back from her Everest trek. Picture: Jerad Williams

But the trip ended this month when the 12-year-old fell dangerously ill after reaching more than 3000 metres altitude, forcing dad, radio announcer Luke Bradnam, to make a tough decision.

“She wanted to keep going to see if she could come good, but it was a case of we didn’t know when the next chopper was going to be,” he said.

“There was just no sign of her improving at all, and I didn’t want to run the risk of it being another three days before we had a window to chopper her out.”

GET A NEW SET OF HEADPHONES WITH YOUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

Coralie previously made history by becoming the youngest Australian to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in 2016. Picture: Luke Bradnam

Now recovered from altitude sickness and back in school, Miss Bradnam is already looking to the future, but said it might take a bit of convincing to be able to go again soon.

“Mummy’s really supportive but she just wants the best for me, she doesn’t want me to get hurt or die or anything like that,” she said.

“Which is really good because Daddy doesn’t really care about that stuff.”