'I'm so proud of my Everest hero'

The family picture offers little insight into his heroic actions just three weeks prior when he abandoned his Mount Everest climb just metres from the summit to save a fellow climber’s life.

Mr Binns (42) of Wath was just 500m from the top when he heard screams from a woman scaling the mountain ahead of him.

He said he felt “immensely proud” to have saved the life of Indian woman Sunita Hazra, but said he wished he could have done the same for another mountaineer who died on the descent.

Ms Hazra (32) of Kolkata, has left hospital following the rescue overnight on May 20.

Her family said they “cannot express their gratitude” to Mr Binns, who is now back home with fiancée Lindsey Empringham and daughter Emma (2).

Lindsey (40) said: “The first phone call I got was from Les at about 4am saying that he couldn’t get to the summit because a woman was ill and begged him to help her.

“I told him he had done the right thing but, to be honest, I thought he was joking at first.

“I know how much he wanted to reach the summit so it’s amazing what he did. I am so proud - it’s such a selfless act. He gave up his dream.”

Mr Binns, who served in the Army for 13 years and lost an eye in an explosion, was approaching an area known as The Balcony when he noticed a “commotion” ahead of him.

He said: “I noticed someone sliding down the fixed lines towards me. All I could hear were the screams of terror as the person gained momentum.

“I braced myself to try to stop whoever it was and managed to do so. At this time I didn’t know that it was Sunita Hazra. 

“I helped her upright and looked at her oxygen regulator. It was registering empty.”

Mr Binns said he helped by giving her some oxygen from his mask and Ms Hazra decided to carry on her descent herself but she collapsed after around 20 metres.

He added: “It was at this point I decided to cancel my summit bid to help Sunita. I climbed down to her and called my Sherpa. 

“I told him we were not going up and we would give Sunita my spare oxygen bottle and take her down.”

Dad-of-one Mr Binns said on their way back down the group found another man who was also struggling to descend and took him along with them.

He said both Ms Hazra and the other climber “kept collapsing” on the descent.

He added: “When we got to my tent I bundled Sunita inside. My Sherpa helped us in. 

“I gave her my sleeping bag. She was suffering from hypothermia and her right hand was badly frost bitten.

“I then remembered we had a flask of ginger tea. I used this to try to rewarm Sunita’s hand. 

“I dried it off and told her to keep it in her fleece pocket which would keep it warm.”

While he was in the tent helping Sunita, Mr Binns said he heard the other climber’s cries for help but said he was “too exhausted to go back out”.

He added: “I literally collapsed and fell asleep. I just hoped he could survive the few hours until first light and that his down suit would keep him from freezing.” 

In the morning Mr Binns and the group continued their descent but he came across the body of the other climber, who had died during the journey.

He said: “I truly regret not being able to do anything more for him. But I had nothing left in me that night and I tried my level best to rescue him but he could not be moved. 

“No summit is worth a life. I am immensely proud that I helped Sunita Hazra. I just wish I could have done more.”

Mr Binns, of Skylark View, has since spoken to Sunita during a series of TV and radio interviews following the incident.

He said: “I wish Sunita and her family all the best and hope she makes a full recovery.”

Mr Binns has now launched a fundraising appeal to help raise funds for a second climb of Everest next year and The Army Benevolent Fund, Mountain Rescue of England and Wales and Dearne Valley Bulldogs.

For more information or to donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lesliebinns.