THE extreme escapades of rugby player-turned-adventurer Richard Parks in attempting climbed Mount Everest without oxygen will be broadcast on TV next week.

Earlier this year, the former Wales and Newport Gwent Dragons player learned his godfather had Alzheimer’s Disease, and set about learning more about the condition. On discovering that cutting edge research into dementia was taking place in Cardiff, Parks decided to get involved.

Scientists were looking for a volunteer to undergo a series of tests - only, the tests needed to be in very specific conditions, and only Everest would do.

What is more, the experiment was to monitor how the body processes air, meaning any ascent would have to be made without oxygen to make it worthwhile. Parks volunteered.

The expedition took place in May this year, but, as the Argus reported, Parks was forced to drop out when, approaching the summit, tests revealed that he was in significant danger of having a stroke or heart attack as a result of the extreme environment.

He said on his website at the time: “It’s been a bitter pill to swallow.”

On the programme, he says: “The human endeavour of summiting Everest - and summiting Everest without supplemental oxygen - is something that really captivates me.

“Without proper training and acclimatisation, you’d be unconscious in four minutes and dead within six when dropped onto the summit of Everest.

"My climb is an experiment to gather new evidence in the hope of demonstrating how - with training - it’s possible to keep the mind sharp by increasing blood-flow to the brain - even when there’s less oxygen for the brain to use."

In January 2014, Mr Parks became the first Welshman - and the fastest ever Brit - to ski solo, unsupported and unassisted, to the South Pole.

Three years earlier, he achieved a world-first in an expedition to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents and stand on all three poles (the North Pole, the South Pole and the summit of Everest) in seven months.

'Richard Parks on Everest' will be shown on BBC One Wales at 10pm on Monday evening.