Australian climber Chin-Tark Chan, 49, dies during Himlung Himal ascent in Nepal; rescue efforts hampered by adverse weather conditions
KATHMANDU: An Australian climber has died while attempting to scale Nepal’s 7,126 metre Himlung Himal peak.
Tourism officials confirmed the death of 49-year-old Chin-Tark Chan on Sunday.
Chan fell ill during his ascent of the moderately difficult mountain near the Tibet border on October 29.
Tourism Department director Himal Gautam stated that Chan was pronounced dead at an altitude of 6,100 metres.
Gautam explained that rescue efforts failed due to adverse weather conditions in the area.
Efforts are underway to bring his body from Camp 3 to Camp 2 before helicopter transport to Kathmandu.
The exact cause of death remains unknown at this time.
Lakpa Sherpa from 8K Expeditions revealed that Chan had also attempted Himlung Himal last year.
Sherpa noted that Chan could not complete his previous attempt due to health conditions.
The expedition company is coordinating with family members and the Australian embassy for body repatriation.
Himlung Himal is located northeast of the Annapurna and Manaslu mountain range.
Nearly 400 climbers were on the mountain during this autumn season from late August to November.
Autumn expeditions in the Himalayas face shorter days, colder temperatures, and narrower summit windows compared to spring.
Last month saw two other climbing fatalities with a French mountaineer and a South Korean climber dying on Mount Ama Dablam.
Nepal hosts eight of the world’s ten highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of climbers annually. – AFP
