A DUNFERMLINE man is hoping to head for the summit of K2 in the next few days, after a failed attempt to reach the neighbouring Broad Peak.

Matthew Gardiner (35) is tackling the treacherous peak with an international team of mountaineers.

Earlier this month, an Austrian climber died from exhaustion after reaching the 8611-metre summit. Although second to Everest in height, K2 is considered to be the world’s most dangerous mountain.

Only four of the 20-strong Field Touring Alpine team Mr Gardener is on the expedition with reached the 8047-metre Broad Peak and the team is now waiting for suitable weather conditions before setting off for K2.

Mr Gardiner’s mother Jeanie, who lives in Shamrock Street, Dunfermline, said her son, a software engineer who now works in London, was again reminded of the dangers of mountaineering when the team came across the remains of a climber who had died on the mountain a number of years ago.

She said it was likely the body had been buried in snow.

She said, “I can’t afford to worry about what might happen. It’s what he wants to do and he’s done it for such a long time. He’s not a warm-weather person and he likes a challenge.”

A former pupil of Queen Anne High School, Mr Gardiner first became interested in mountaineering with the Second Fife Scouts in Dunfermline, when he would go away on weekend expeditions.

Mrs Gardiner said whether or not the team headed to the summit would depend on the weather and the outlook was not good.

She added, “They are hoping for a window in the weather, probably on Saturday, and I think that’s when they might head for the summit. But even the porters there are concerned about the weather.”

One of the team, Ryan Waters, has posted an expedition diary on the internet.

He said, “We had a very successful Broad Peak expedition with people reaching the summit, a very safe trip, and everyone is either on their way out or continued up here to K2 where the rest of our members are here.”