Octogenarian dies on Everest
Source: Agencies |
May 11, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN 82-year-old former Nepalese foreign minister has died on the slopes of Mount Everest while attempting to become the oldest person to climb the world's highest mountain, an official said yesterday.
Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay was returning from the first camp set on the slopes of Everest back down to the base camp when he collapsed on Monday evening, Mountaineering Department official Tilak Pandey said. He was going back to the base camp to get medical help because he was not feeling well.
Upadhyay's climbing companions gave him some water and oxygen after he collapsed on the icy trails, but he died, likely from high-altitude sickness, a common cause of death among mountain climbers, Pandey said.
Upadhyay served as Nepal's foreign minister from 1986-90 and was the country's representative to the United Nations from 1972-78.
He was trying to break the record set by a Nepalese climber who scaled the 8,850-meter peak at the age of 76.
Several dozen climbers are currently at Everest's base camp hoping to scale the peak this month.
Shailendra Kumar Upadhyay was returning from the first camp set on the slopes of Everest back down to the base camp when he collapsed on Monday evening, Mountaineering Department official Tilak Pandey said. He was going back to the base camp to get medical help because he was not feeling well.
Upadhyay's climbing companions gave him some water and oxygen after he collapsed on the icy trails, but he died, likely from high-altitude sickness, a common cause of death among mountain climbers, Pandey said.
Upadhyay served as Nepal's foreign minister from 1986-90 and was the country's representative to the United Nations from 1972-78.
He was trying to break the record set by a Nepalese climber who scaled the 8,850-meter peak at the age of 76.
Several dozen climbers are currently at Everest's base camp hoping to scale the peak this month.
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