‘Joyful tears’ of youngest girl to ever climb Everest

The youngest girl to ever climb Mount Everest has spoken of shedding 'joyful tears' on reaching the summit on May 25. 

Thirteen-year-old Malavath Poorna, who lives in a small tribal village in southern India, is a student from a school which is part of the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions- or SWAEROES. 

The organisation helped train her, together with other students from the region, for the expedition.

At 13 years and 11 months, Poorna is just a month older than the world's youngest Everest climber. 

American Jordan Romero ascended the peak in 2010 when he was 13 years and 10 months.

She described her feelings as she passed the bodies of a number of climbers who died in an avalanche before she made her ascent.