KATHMANDU: A Spanish alpinist died while returning from the summit point of Mt Himlung in western Nepal last night.

According to the base camp officials, Fernando Sanchez Grassa breathed his last above Camp III on Himlung when he along with two other climbers was returning from the summit point last night.

Fernando (44), one of the renowned mountain guides, was a part of an eight-member expedition, the officials said, adding that Fernando and twin brothers – Juan Carlos Del Cerro Milan and Jesus Del Cero Millan – reached the summit point of the 7,126-metre mountain on Friday afternoon. Other five members of the expedition had abandoned their bid, the officials added.

Fernando complained of snow blindness while descending from the summit point, according to officials. “Three climbers scaled the mountain in an alpine style.”  Efforts were underway to recover his body from Camp III, they added. The twin brothers have already descended to the base camp.