Third Hillary says he wants to climb Everest

A third generation Hillary could one day be standing on top of the world's highest mountain.

Next year marks half a century since the first ascent of Everest by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953.

Since then, Sir Edmund's son, Peter Hillary, has also made it to the top.

Now, Peter's own son, 10-year-old George, has said he wants to do the same.

"I want to climb Everest," was George's earnest announcement last week.

The boy's expression of his ambition still comes as a surprise, Aucklander Peter Hillary told the Sydney Morning Herald.

If George does manage the feat, he would not be the first grandson of an Everest conqueror to do so.

Tenzing's grandson, Sydney-based Tashi Tenzing, has twice climbed the peak, the second time earlier this year.

- NZPA