Kathmandu, May 28 :

Inigo De Pineda Blance, a 39-year-old Spaniard, from the Friendship Kanchenjunga Expedition, died on May 24 while descending from Mt Kanchenjunga (8586 m), the Tourism ministry said.

In a statement issued today, the ministry said: “Blance died after falling down about 1000 m from 8200 m height while descending to the base camp.” Three Spanish members had successfully scaled Mt Kanchenjunga on the same day at 10:30.

Another statement by the ministry said that a Canadian, Thomas G Masterson successfully scaled the Mt Lhotse on May 21.