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Four British ex-special forces soldiers, including a government minister, set a new Everest record. They summited in under five days without traditional acclimatization, using a controversial xenon gas pre-acclimatization method. While this is a record for a non-acclimatized ascent, it's not the fastest overall Everest climb. The method, involving simulated altitude training and xenon gas, is disputed within the mountaineering community due to the lack of conclusive scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.