Adventurer Hayes is back after 'three poles' feat

Dubai: Dubai-based adventurer Adrian Hayes arrived back in town late on Wednesday night after completing his world-record-setting "three poles" expedition in just 19 months.

Hayes was greeted at the airport by his family after returning his successful trip to the South Pole, just 19 months after reaching the summit of Mount Everest in May 2006 and the North Pole in April 2007.

Upon his return, Hayes said that he had frostbite on his nose and lips and that he had lost 12 kilos over the two months that he had been away.

"It's great to be home, though I haven't stopped sweating," he said, contrasting the frigid temperatures he had just left to the moderate Dubai winter.

"I had a great flight back," he continued, saying that Emirates airlines had treated him well. "I am eating everything I possibly can right now. I've lost 12 kilos, so my body is craving food at the moment."

Upon reaching the South Pole a week ago, Hayes became the fastest man to reach the three poles and one of just 15 adventurers to attain the feat. He completed the trip as part of a team of three other men and a woman, with members from Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Lebanon.

Hayes kept a blog chronicling his experiences and wrote that his eyes welled up with tears as the team was led to the silver globe that marks the South Pole.