Disabled Frenchman makes record Everest skydive

A French multiple sclerosis sufferer on Sunday has become the first disabled person to skydive over Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain spanning the border between China and Nepal.

Skydivers free-fall north east of Kathmandu AFP /HO/Gorakh Bista

55 year-old Marc Kopp, who describes himself as "probably a little crazy," says he hopes his tandem skydive will convey "a message of hope to other people with the disease."

Multiple Sclerosis (M.S) is a degenerative disease of the nervous system, disrupting the brain's ability to communicate with the body. In the worst cases sufferers can lose the ability to walk or speak. Kopp, from Longwy northeast of Paris, was diagnosed with M.S. in 2001 and now uses a wheelchair in day to day life. As his illness progressed, the former local government member became increasingly determined to fight back, volunteering at a support group to help other sufferers.

In July he met the champion skydiver Mario Gervasi at a parachuting event in Lorraine. Gervasi was planning to parachute over the Everest summit again, this time with French footballer Zinedine Zidane, but a clash of schedules made it impossible. Instead he asked his new acquaintance whether he would like to take the international player's place, prompting Kopp to raise 26 thousand euros for charity.

After the stomach-flipping 10 thousand metre plunge from a helicopter Kopp was taken to hospital as a precaution. "I feel very happy. I am exhausted but very happy," he said.