Chris Bonington - still climbing mountains at 80 years old

Even after scaling the highest peaks in the world and surviving countless close encounters, legendary climber Chris Bonington refuses to opt for the sedentary lifestyle of a retiree. In his 65 years of mountaineering, he says it is "pure luck" and instinct that have helped him escape numerous dangerous situations.

"Pure, total luck helped me survive," said Bonington, "I've had at least 10 occasions where there was no way I should have gotten out of it.

"If you're falling and you're not in control, it's pure luck whether you hit something or not. We have all had many narrow escapes. You survive it and get on with it."

The British mountaineer, who received the prestigious Piolet d'Or Career Award in recognition of his mountaineering achievements in April, talked about his philosophy towards the sport on his visit to Hong Kong last week. He gave a talk at the Hong Kong branch of the British brand management company Pentland Group and then went on a hike with its employees on Lamma Island.

"To stay alive in climbing over a long period of time at a high level, you've got to be very attuned to your instincts. They are developed through experience and are not necessarily logical," Bonington said. "It is very important that when you have an instinct that, 'This is wrong', you listen to it."

Bonington, who discovered his love for the sport in 1951 at 16, showed no fear when talking about the risks of the sport and spoke passionately about his experiences.

"I have never had any moments of panic while climbing, which is important. One must accept it [crisis] and get on with it," he said.