A DOCTOR from Lisburn hopes to be standing on top of the world late this month when he joins a tear tackling Mount Everest on S Patrick's Day.

Dr Roger McMorrow, a former pupil Friend School, will be part of a three-man team aim ing to climb the world's highest peak as pa of the Caudwell Xtreme Everest medical study, which will focus on the effects of low oxygen on the body.

Two of the team will be testing a new close circuit breathing system designed by E McMorrow, which removes exhaled carbo dioxide and allows the remaining oxygen t be reused.

Dr McMorrow said the new system was designed to assist patients ranging from chidren with cystic fibrosis to adults wit chronic lung disease.

It would allow anyone dependent on supple mentary oxygen to be as mobile as possible. "Where better to test the new CXE Close Circuit system than in one of the world most inhospitable locations - Mount Everest where there's less then half the amount of oxygen that exists at sea level," said E McMorrow.

"We will be putting the new equipment t the test in an extreme environment for th world to see. The timing is interesting as this year is the 100th anniversary of the first use of supplementary oxygen for climbing " he said.