Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK has presented Island mountaineer Phil Drowley with a Manx flag ahead of his latest epic adventure.
 
The flag will accompany Phil as he attempts to climb Carstenz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea.
 
If successful, the Isle of Man police officer will become one of an elite group of just 230 climbers to have scaled the highest peaks in each of the seven continents.
 
Phil has already conquered six of the world’s most daunting mountains. He proudly flew the Manx flag from the top of Everest (28,320ft) and has also reached the summit of Vinson Massif in Antarctica (15,670ft), Aconcagua in South America (22,267ft), Denali in North America (19,821ft), Kilimanjaro in Africa (18,864ft) and Europe’s Mount Elbrus (18,054ft).
 
At 15,629ft Carstenz Pyramid is the tallest peak in Australasia and also one of the most remote of the ‘Big 7’.
 
Phil, who sets off this Saturday (2nd November) to begin his latest challenge, is once again raising money for Ronald McDonald House Isle of Man Family and Friends.
 
The Chief Minister said: ‘I wish Phil the very best of luck and look forward to seeing the Manx flag flying at the top of another of the world’s highest mountains. To climb the tallest peaks in each of the seven continents would be a truly remarkable achievement. Phil has been an excellent roving ambassador for the Isle of Man across the globe and has raised thousands of pounds for a very worthy cause. I hope his latest venture is a big success.’
 
People can make a donation to Ronald McDonald House Isle of Man Family and Friends by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/PhilDrowley.

Photo shows the flag with patches from six of the seven tallest peaks – Phil is holding the one for Carstenz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea.