London, Jan 18 (ANI): A father and son from England have entered the record books by successfully completing an unsupported trip to the South Pole.

According to a report in the Telegraph, Kevin Gaskell, 50, and his son Matt Gaskell, 18, are believed to be the first father and son team ever to complete the treacherous journey to the coldest place on earth, while the teenager is thought to be the youngest person ever to do so.

The pair set off from their home in Newbury, Berkshire, on Boxing Day (December 26) and, travelling as part of a seven-man team, had given themselves a month to cross the frozen wastes of the Antarctic, either on foot or on skis.

They reached the South Pole on January 14 – just nine days after setting off from the Patriot Hills base in Antarctica.

In his website message posted after their arrival, team member Alan Chambers said, “We have all arrived at the South Pole safe, fit and very very happy and now looking forward to the journey home.”

“We are getting checked over by a doctor. We are going to have a look/walk/tour round the South Pole Station, then we will get some food and a cup of tea, then rest for the night,” he added.

Later, as the team waited to be picked up to be taken back to Chile for their flight home, Chambers said, “Everybody is in good spirits and together as a team we all had difficult days and good days and we all managed to get to the South Pole. We are now looking forward to getting home to our families.”

Unsupported, with no dogs, helicopters, kites or skidoos, the Gaskells and their teammates hauled 80kg sledges further than 200 miles, climbing 10,000ft across the coldest, highest, windiest and driest continent on Earth.

They faced temperatures as low as -58 Fahrenheit (-50 degree Celsius) and battled winds in excess of 30mph.

According to Gaskell, he undertook the expedition in memory of his younger sister Jayne, who died from leukaemia in 2004, and aims to raise 40,000 pounds from it. (ANI)