A HAMPSHIRE adventurer suffered burns when he was caught in a lightning storm at the top of a 16,000ft mountain.

Rhys Jones was hit by a series of shocks at the base of his spine when electricity in the air was drawn to metal objects on his harness.

The 26-year-old action man was forced to make a rapid descent down the mountain to avoid being struck by lightning.

He and his two fellow climbers were scaling one of the tallest peaks in Ecuador when the terrifying incident occurred.

Rhys said: “The metal on my trekking poles – which were on my rucksack – started to buzz. Then the carabiners (metal clips) on my harness started buzzing too.

“The air was charged with electricity and a lightning storm was imminent.

“We started a quick descent back to the mountain refuge. Everything was buzzing and I felt a hot burn on the base of my back where a carabiner sat.

“It felt as if I was touching an electric fence, so descended even faster before being fried.”

His father Alan is monitoring the progress of the expedition from the family home in Brockenhurst.

He said: “Rhys was caught in a lightning storm and received a few nasty shocks through his trekking poles and the metal in his rucksack. Never a dull moment with him.”

Rhys is heading an expedition that aims to scale seven of the tallest mountains in the region, including the world’s highest active volcano.

The three climbers plan to spend Christmas Day crossing glaciers at the base of the 19,347ft Cotopaxi volcano, which belches scalding steam from its snow-capped crater.

Cotopaxi has not erupted since 1940 but is still active and is part of the volcanic chain known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The expedition also aims to conquer the 20,565ft Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador’s highest peak, where they hope to see in the New Year.

In 2006 Rhys became the youngest person to climb the highest mountain on all seven continents, reaching the summit of Mount Everest on his 20th birthday.

He has now set up his own adventure company, RJ7 Expeditions, in partnership with specialist travel company Camps International, based in Ringwood.

In February he plans to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of soldiers, all of whom have lost limbs in Afghanistan.