Two years ago Thomas Delaney had a high-flying career in London and lived in a penthouse apartment.
But but behind his apparent glamorous life lay an addiction to horse tranquilisers.
It took the Glasgow man hitting rock bottom and almost dying before the now 33-year-old took control of his life.
Two years on he's turned his life around and forged an unlikely friendship with climbing legend Conrad Anker as he bids to scale Mount Everest, the Sunday Mail reports.
Thomas was working as a business development manager in London in 2018 and was hooked on Ketamine when he went into rehab.
Since then he's been swapping messages with the celebrated American mountaineer on Instagram.
Thomas revealed his dream is to tackle Everest after binging on climbing videos during his time at the Phoenix Futures' Glasgow Residential Service rehab centre that saved him.
He said: "I first sent Conrad, who is like the David Beckham of climbing, a message on Instagram on October 31 in 2018 when I was planning to go into rehab in Glasgow.
"Obviously I didn't expect a response but he got back to me on the day I was entering rehab, which was two days after I sent that first message.
"I'm planning to climb Mount Everest next year in the name of recovery, so I sent him a message telling him a bit about my story and what my dream is.
"I still speak to him occasionally and he's sent me a lot of inspirational messages and even pictures of him climbing.
"Now I want to plant a flag on the top of that mountain in the name of addiction in the hope that I can unite everyone in recovery."
Anker, 57, sent a series of messages about patience and forgiveness to Thomas as the recovering addict marks almost two years of being sober next month.
Thomas, who now gives talks to schoolkids in Glasgow, said: "I was a functioning drug addict and I thought all I was good for was taking drugs.
"I weighed six stone at my lowest point. Now I'm a public speaker, presenting for a recovery TV show and setting up my own business.
"I almost died and now I want to climb Mount Everest.
"I want to show people that recovery and change is possible."
