Queensland teen recalls braving minus-40 degree temperatures to reach Everest summit

Queensland teenager Alyssa Azar has been welcomed home as a local hero today after becoming the youngest person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, almost 9000m above sea level.

The 19-year-old touched down at Toowoomba Airport in a helicopter with her father Glenn this morning, after breaking the record previously held by 21-year-old Rex Pemberton in 2005.

The climb, which Ms Azar has said was "definitely as tough" as she expected, marked her third attempt.

“I remember thinking just get through the next few steps, get through the next few steps or get to the next anchor,” she said

“But I also felt surprisingly strong, especially on the last few days of climbing, just, I guess, being that close to the goal I felt really good.”

Ms Azar, who braved darkness and minus-40 degree temperatures, said she felt a “sense of relief” when she reached the summit at achieving her goal, but also a “sense of disbelief” that she had made it. 

“At the same time you’ve still got to be focused,” she added. 

“You’re technically halfway and you’ve got to get back down.”

The descent is also a dangerous trip. On May 20, Melbourne climber Maria Strydom, 34, was descending the mountain with her husband when she was overcome by altitude sickness and died.

Ms Azar earlier said she had passed Dr Strydom on the mountain between camp four and camp three and that the "tragic circumstances" were "a tough time" for everyone involved.

“‘Could we have done something?’ you think,” Ms Azar said.

“Giving her oxygen, or try to get her down to camp two for a rescue – you do have those thoughts.”

The teenager, who said she carried a picture of her younger brother with her on her climb, told TODAY she was only able to spend 20 minutes at the summit before heading back down.

She has described stopping to take in her achievement and snapping some photos to mark the moment.

“Before I left I had a moment to myself to be on top of the world, I definitely had a moment to take it all in," she said. 

“All the years of hard work that went into it. I think that just makes it even more special when you're up there.”

Ms Azar has been writing a book about her expeditions and will now pen the final chapter ahead of its expected release in September.

The Toowoomba Regional Council plans to honour the teenager by handing her the keys to the city at a later date.

“I think she's teaching a lesson to each and every one of us,” Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said.

“No matter whether you're a young person or more mature, the reality is you never give up.”

Ms Azar agreed, saying the climb was a personal achievement in more ways than one.

“It's not the mountain we conquer, it's ourselves,” she said.

“And I think that describes the expedition pretty well.”