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Lewsey passed the bodies of newly-perished climbers on his descentRugby World Cup winner Josh Lewsey has abandoned his attempt to scale Mount Everest, admitting: "I have never felt so scared."</p>The former England and London Wasps back, was within 500ft (152m) of the peak when breathing apparatus failed.It left him in a race against time to descend from 28,543ft (8,700m) above sea level before oxygen ran out.
The Londoner passed dead climbers on the way down, including a mountaineer who had died two days before.
Lewsey, 33, said: "The most terrifying thing was seeing the dead bodies and realising that I could be one of them.
"I saw one Japanese climber who had died two days before.
Poor conditions"All you want to do is sit down and sleep because your oxygen levels are so low - but that's how they all ended up dying."
The exhibition had already been bedevilled by poor weather.
Lewsey's hopes to have another attempt at the summit were dashed when kit suppliers were unable to provide replacement breathing apparatus in time.
The rugby player was taking on the challenge with close friend Maj Keith Reesby to raise money for the Help for Heroes and Combat Stress charities.
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