ROYAL Marine reservist Matt Snook overcame a medical emergency to climb Mt Everest in memory of his friend John Thornton.

The 24-year-old from Bearwood sent a text to friends and family at 3am on Sunday that said: “We’ve done it”.

He was a friend of Royal Marine Lt John Thornton from Ferndown, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008 aged 22.

They had dreamed of climbing the mountain together and Matt used John’s climbing harness on the expedition.

Matt, a former Poole Grammar School pupil, required emergency evacuation back to Kathmandu during the initial stages as he was suffering from a suspected case of pneumonia, high altitude pulmonary oedema and high altitude cerebral oedema.

Matt, and another one of John’s friends Pete Sunnucks, 27, from Wolverhampton, did the climb for The John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation and Help for Heroes.

Matt’s mum Karen said yesterday: “We are desperately waiting to find out more, but we believe he is on his way down to base camp where communications are better.

She added: “John had sat in my lounge with Matt planning to climb Mt Everest. It was lovely to get the text but sad John wasn’t there. I am sure he was there in spirit.”

Matt and Pete are thought to the first men to climb the 8,848m mountain for Help for Heroes.

Pete Thornton, John’s dad, said: “A lot of people might have thought Matt would not make it after the illness – but he did it. Talk about a local hero? Blimey!

“I take my hat off to them and I can’t wait for them to come home.”

To donate and to read more about John Thornton visit everestforheroes.co.uk.