Blind Australian set to climb Everest

Gosens, 35, is aiming to become the first blind man to reach the mountain's summit when he leaves Australia Friday for Nepal.

The Brisbane father of two, who works with the Royal Blind Foundation in Queensland state, said he was motivated by his family and inspired by a blind friend, Ched Towns, who had hoped to climb Everest but died on a neighbouring mountain from altitude sickness in 2000.

Gosens said that while his wife was "fairly anxious" about his attempting to climb one of the world's most dangerous peaks, he was keen to make the trip to prove to his daughter, who is almost totally blind, that she need not let her condition limit her outlook on life.

Gosens, who was born without irises and who also has glaucoma, will be assisted by two Sherpas in a climbing team of about 12.