A crew member accompanying Paul Horrocks on his Kilimanjaro climb came within “seconds from death”, the Manchester Evening News editor has told.

Speaking from Karanga Valley Camp, the journalist told HoldtheFrontPage how he witnessed a porter – who had been helping to carry back-up equipment – retching and gasping for breath.

The group had been climbing a slope at 13,900ft when the porter got into difficulty, suffering from dehydration.

The mountain guide gave the porter mouth-to-mouth and then oxygen.

Paul told HTFP: “I think he was seconds from death.

“It was amazing to see and brought home to us all the importance of taking our altitude sickness pills and drinking plenty of water.”

Following the drama the group safely made their way to Karanga Valley Camp and the porter has now made a full recovery.

The team expect to reach their destination of Uhuru Peak at 6am on Saturday morning.

See also Paul’s diary.