KATHMANDU, MAY 18

An Indian woman climber who fell ill at the Mt Everest base camp died in Lukla this morning.

According to Da Dendi Sherpa, Managing Director at Glacier Himalaya Treks, Suzanne Leopoldina Jesus breathed her last while undergoing treatment at Lukla-based hospital at around 5:13am.

The 59-year-old climber from Maharashtra, Mumbai was taken ill for over six days at the base camp. 'She was forcibly airlifted to Lukla from the base camp yesterday evening,' Sherpa said, adding that she often refused to leave the base camp saying she had to climb Mt Everest at any cost.

A meeting with the government liaison officers, police personnel and handling agency decided to take her to Lukla for further treatment, Sherpa said.

Suzanne reported that she was climbing with pacemaker but she couldn't move above the base camp. 'She took more than six hours to reach the Crompton point,' Sherpa recalled.

She had completed trekking in Everest Base Camp in May 2022. By attempting Everest, she aimed to be the Asia's first person on pacemaker and oldest Indian attempting Everest. She is a teacher in Government Primary School and promoted as Head in one of the largest School at Silvassa.

Indian embassy in Kathmandu as well the Department of Tourism have already been informed about the incident, he said, adding that efforts are underway to airlift her body to Kathmandu.

This season, Mt Everest witnessed seven deaths. Four Sherpa climbers, an American doctor and Moldova climber died in the last few weeks as hundreds of climbers headed for the summit push.