Sherpa climber dies on Mt Makalu

KATHMANDU: A Sherpa climber died of altitude-related sickness on Mt Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,485 metres, according to the expedition organiser.

Ang Dawa Sherpa (32) from Solukhumbu died at the Makalu base camp last night, Dawa Sherpa, Managing Director at Trekking Sherpa Expedition Pvt Ltd confirmed.

According to him, Sherpa complained of altitude-related sickness at Camp II on Monday while returning from the summit point. “Efforts to rescue him by helicopters throughout the day yesterday went in vain due to the adverse weather,” Sherpa said, adding that fellow climbers, however, descended him to the base camp from Camp II after he complained of altitude sickness.

"He breathed his last at the base camp last night.” Ang Dawa along with his client summitted the mountain on Sunday, Sherpa added.

Ang Dawa was part of a four-member Chinese expedition, locally managed by Trekking Sherpa Expedition. “His body has been brought to Kathmandu from the base camp this morning,” he said, adding that his family would receive his body after conducting postmortem at TU Teaching Hospital.

According to the Department of Tourism, at least 27 climbers obtained climbing permits for Mt Makalu while nine others will be attempting to climb Mt Makau II (7,678m) in the spring season.