Nagarajan, 59, known as RJ or Rajan, reached the Everest summit at 10.30am local time (12.45pm in Malaysia), according to expedition organiser Khafiz Bachok, Bernama reported.

The Seven Summits is one of the highest achievements in mountain climbing, he said in a statement today.

Nagarajan had previously climbed the highest peaks in:

South America – Mount Aconcagua (6,961m);

North America – Mount Denali, US (6,194m);

Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,895m);

Europe – Mount Elbrus in Russia (5,642m);

Antarctica – Mount Vinson (4,892m);

Australia – Mount Kosciuszko (2,228m); and

Asia – Mount Everest in Nepal (8,848m)

Khafiz said Nagarajan had also completed climbs on two other mountains, Mont Blanc (4,810m) in France and Puncak Jaya (4884m) in Irian Jaya which feature in different versions of the Seven Summits list.

Nagarajan, who is a member of the ZeroTo8000 team, said he hoped his success would convey the message of self-reliance in pursuing dreams and creating success. His climbs were financed by collecting his own funds, he said.