On this day: 1953 - Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest

In 1953, a ninth expedition to reach the summit of Mt. Everest returned to Nepal, led by John Hunt. Two pairs were chosen to attempt the ascent to the summit.

The first pair came to within 100 metres of the summit before having to turn back due to oxygen problems.

On May 28 1953 the second team consisting of New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay a Sherpa climber from Nepal made the second and final attempt of the expedition to reach the summit.

The two climbers reached the summit of Mt. Everest at 11:30 a.m. local time on May 29 1953. Tenzing revealed a few years later that Hillary had put his foot on the summit first.