A nine-year-old British schoolboy was literally on top of the world after he took a record-breaking day trip with his father – to the North Pole.
Intrepid Oliver Chambers braved temperatures of -25 degrees Celsius when he flew in by helicopter to meet his ex-Royal Marine father Alan, 41.
Year-5 pupil Oliver spent one hour at the geographical North Pole and spoke to his aunt on a satellite phone before he was flown back to base camp by helicopter.
The pair have now set the record for the youngest father and son ever to stand together on top of the world.
Oliver, from Whitchurch, Bristol, admitted that he was ”nervous, anxious and excited” during the once-in-a-lifetime trip.
He said: ”It was quite windy and was very cold but I was very excited when I saw my dad waving from the ice waiting for me to land.
”Once the rotors had stopped I got out onto the ice and went to meet my dad.
”I was a bit nervous and anxious because we were at the top of the world and on ice. I was scared a little bit because there was nothing there apart from my dad and his team.
”The ice looked so big, it was everywhere, but once I was with my dad I was very excited. He gave me a cuddle and made sure I had my warm gloves on.”
Oliver and polar explorer Alan, who has led eight expeditions to the North Pole in the last 10 years, flew from London Heathrow to Oslo, Norway on April 10.
They then travelled North to Svalbard and caught a Russian cargo plane to ice camp Barneo – a floating scientific research station which exists for just four weeks a year.
A helicopter then flew them 70km to the North Pole on April 16 with an expedition of Chinese businessmen and women Alan was leading.
Oliver, who took his school mascot, a toy dog called Rusty and Bristol Rugby Club scarf, spent one hour at the North Pole before returning to base camp.
He interviewed scientists and adventurers from Norway, Russia and America, during the expedition before giving a presentation at Cleve House School, Bristol, on Monday.
Alan, who was made an MBE after leading the first British team to walk unsupported to the Geographic North Pole in 2000, described the trip as ”amazing”.
He said: ”When I first made it to the North Pole Ollie was just a dot on a pregnancy scan so it was very emotional to be here with him ten years on.
”It was really moving watching him land in the helicopter and then seeing him run towards me – it was an absolutely amazing feeling.
”I wanted to show him what his dad’s life at work involves and let him meet some of the incredible people I work with.
”He went back to school very proud and he has given a talk to his class about the expedition. He wants to go to the South Pole next but that’s a lot more difficult.”
Alan is currently organising an expedition to recreate Captain Scott’s route to the South Pole, which will mark the centenary of his ill-fated journey.
