KATHMANDU: An Australian climber was killed when a huge rock fell from the high camp of Mt Ama Dabalm damaging the climbing route in the Mt Everest region, according to the expedition organiser.

Tshering Pande Bhote, Managing Director at Top Himalaya Guides Pvt Ltd said that 33-year-old Michael Geoffrey Davis from Australia fell to his death above Camp II on Mt Ama Dablam after a huge rock damaged the climbing ropes that the climbers were using for descend the 6,812 metre-peak yesterday.

According to him, the incident occurred when a group of 15 climbers including high altitude guides were descending from Camp III following a strong wind. “The mountaineer fell to his death after a huge rock damaged the ropes he was using to descend the mountain,” he informed. Other members of the expedition were, however, safe, he added.

An aerial rescue operation was conducted immediately after the incident. “His body has already been airlifted to Kathmandu for postmortem,” Bhote said. According to him, family members will be arriving here to receive the climber’s body in a day or two.

Climbing Sherpas have also re-fixed the ropes on the route which was damaged by rockfall, the expedition organisers said.