Mount Everest: Altitude sickness claims third death in four days

World 15:38 23.05.2016

An Indian climber has died on Mount Everest, becoming the third fatality in three days on the mountain.

Subhash Paul died on Sunday after reaching the summit a day before, as Sherpa guides were helping him descend.

A Dutch man and an Australian woman both died over the weekend as a result of altitude sickness.

Some 30 climbers have suffered frostbite or become seriously ill on Everest in recent days, as the spring climbing season comes to a close.

Two other Indian climbers who had been with Mr Paul have also been reported missing in the so-called "death zone" near the summit.

However the mountain's most successful female climber reached the summit for the seventh time on Friday.

What is altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, occurs when people have difficulty adapting to low oxygen levels at high altitude.

Most cases are mild and result in headaches, nausea or dizziness, but in rare cases there can be a potentially fatal build-up of fluid on the brain and lungs.

What are the chances of getting it?

It can affect anyone that goes above 8,000ft (2,500m). But Tibetans are said topossess a gene allowing them to cope with life at high altitude.

Around 30% of people experience a mild form of the condition and recover naturally, but between 1-3% develop the most severe form. It is not unusual for it to claim lives on Everest.

Is there any way to cure it?

Sufferers are advised to immediately go to a lower altitude and consume fluids and bottled oxygen. Drugs which reduce the severity of symptoms are available, but can have side-effects.

 
This is the first climbing season for two years on Everest.

In 2014, 16 guides were killed in an avalanche, leading to protests that prematurely ended the season, then an earthquake in Nepal last year killed at least 18 people on the mountain and closed climbing routes.

With the mountain open again, climbers have been taking advantage of good conditions in large numbers, with nearly 400 reaching the summit from the Nepalese side since 11 May.

There have been successful ascents from the Chinese side too, including Lhakpa Sherpa, a Nepalese woman living in the US, who reached the peak from Tibet on Friday, breaking her own record for the most Everest climbs by a woman.

'Never a close call'

Dutch climber Eric Ary Arnold died on Friday after reaching the summit, then on Saturday, 34-year-old Australian woman Maria Strydom, born in South Africa, died while descending.

Ms Strydom, a vegan, had been attempting to climb Everest with her husband - who has survived - in an effort to prove that vegans could "do anything".

"It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak," Ms Strydom is said to have told the Monash Business School, where she was a lecturer.

Her sister, Aletta Newman, told Reuters the couple were "always extremely well-prepared, they trained really, really hard before each event that they did. There was never any incident before this one."

Mr Paul's team mates, Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, have been missing since Saturday, Wangchu Sherpa from the Trekking Camp Nepal agency in Kathmandu told the Associated Press. He said they were unlikely to be able to survive.

Most climbers are now beginning their climb down from the higher camps as spring climbing season slowly comes to an end, according to an official at the Department of Tourism.

Speaking to the BBC, Gyanendra Shrestha, a Nepalese official at Everest Base Camp, said snow blindness, altitude sickness and fatigue were very common health issues at high altitudes, although most people recover once they descend the mountain.

 

 

 
Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO

News line

50 families to be relocated to Khojaly in coming days, official says
17:28 13.05.2024
Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy
Cuban diplomat visits Seoul for talks on opening embassy
17:20 13.05.2024
New appointment at Central Bank of Azerbaijan
17:00 13.05.2024
World’s biggest banks ‘financed fossil fuels by $6.9 trillion since Paris Agreement’
16:40 13.05.2024
Dedicated sessions for small island states to be held within COP29 framework
16:20 13.05.2024
U.S. Embassy Holds Alumni Summit in Shabran
U.S. Embassy Holds Alumni Summit in Shabran
16:00 13.05.2024
President Ilham Aliyev received Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
15:43 13.05.2024
Armenia's Political Dilemma: Analyst Suggests Peace Treaty with Azerbaijan as Pivotal Step
14:40 13.05.2024
What can a temperature rise of 3 degrees do to Earth?
What can a temperature rise of 3 degrees do to Earth?
14:15 13.05.2024
ANAMA reveals number of landmines found in liberated territories last week
13:50 13.05.2024
Ukrainian MP Comments on Putin's Defense Minister Shake-Up
13:33 13.05.2024
Inflation in Azerbaijan drops to 0,7%
Inflation in Azerbaijan drops to 0,7%
13:17 13.05.2024
Yerevan protesters gather outside Foreign Ministry building hosting Mirzoyan-Borg meeting
13:00 13.05.2024
Admission plan of Türkiye-Azerbaijan University is approved
Admission plan of Türkiye-Azerbaijan University is approved
12:46 13.05.2024
Ian Borg: Malta intends to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in achieving comprehensive peace
12:29 13.05.2024
President receives Governor-General of Tuvalu, Prime Minister of Tonga, Foreign Minister of Commonwealth of Bahamas
12:20 13.05.2024
Baku hosts training seminar on preparation for COP29
11:50 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan approves admission plan of Karabakh University
11:28 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan to relocate another group of residents to Shusha
11:00 13.05.2024
Bulgarian King Ferdinand I returns to his country after 36 years
Bulgarian King Ferdinand I returns to his country after 36 years
10:38 13.05.2024
US Adds 37 Chinese Companies to sanctions list
US Adds 37 Chinese Companies to sanctions list
10:14 13.05.2024
Protesters begin blocking Yerevan streets demanding Pashinyan's resignation
09:56 13.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Baku hosts II ICESCO Ministerial Conference on PISA
09:43 13.05.2024
Georgian Parliament approves foreign influence bill in third reading
09:33 13.05.2024
President of Türkiye to receive Greek PM in Ankara
09:00 13.05.2024
Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
Arsenal keep up title pressure as Trossard sinks Manchester United
23:00 12.05.2024
7 killed in missile attack against Russia's Belgorod
22:05 12.05.2024
OSCE Chair-in-Office Ian Borg to visit South Caucasus
21:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expresses condolences to Afghanistan
20:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Parliament Speaker embarks on working visit to Uzbekistan
19:26 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani MFA expresses condolences to Brazil
19:00 12.05.2024
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
Azerbaijan weather forecast for May 13
18:00 12.05.2024
Catalonia goes to polls in vote that will gauge support for independence
17:20 12.05.2024
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
Massachusetts man who received first-ever pig kidney transplant dies at 62
16:13 12.05.2024
Fire destroys one of biggest shopping centres in Warsaw
15:49 12.05.2024
Border guards of Russia leave the border regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan
15:20 12.05.2024
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
Azerbaijani para-taekwondo fighter crowned European champion
14:55 12.05.2024
Top Ukrainian Commander's Stepson Leads Pro-Russian Convoy in Sydney - VIDEO
14:33 12.05.2024
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
14:01 12.05.2024
Thousands protest against ‘foreign influence’ bill in Georgia
13:06 12.05.2024
Hamısı