AN EXPEDITION to conquer Everest has got off to an exciting start for Swindon soldier Captain Francis Atkinson.

The 31-year-old army doctor, who is taking part in the Walking With The Wounded Team, was on the Qatar airlines flight to Kathmandu when an intercom call went out around the plane for a doctor as a passenger had collapsed.

Writing on the expedition website, Cpt Atkinson said: “Fortunately the patient wasn’t too ill - a 22yr old lady who wasnt agreeing with her malaria tablets– perhaps she would have recieved more sympathy if I hadn’t just woken up!!”

The team, which also includes Captain David Wiseman, Private Jaco van Gass, former Private Karl Hinett and former Captain Martin Hewitt, are using some of their free time in Kathmandu to check their extreme mountaineering gear, including full down body suits, ice axes, crampons and heavy-duty boots.

They will be at risk from frostbite and hypothermia once they leave base camp towards the 8,848m peak, and they will come across treacherous crevasses, narrow ridges and vertical cliffs.

Cpt Atkinson, who suffered a gunshot wound to his right upper arm while serving in Afghanistan, said: "We have a lot of kit to take with us. We've probably got in excess of 35 kilos worth of kit."

Some of the heavier equipment was freighted out to Nepal a few weeks ago and it will be sent on to Everest Base Camp, 5,267m above sea level.

This was the last opportunity the team had to make sure all their gear was in good working order.

Capt Atkinson and the rest of the team, have just one more full day to get last-minute provisions for their eight or nine-week expedition.

To keep up with the the team’s progress log on to www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/everest2012