Kenyan Banker Cheruiyot Kirui Found Dead At Mt Everest

Kenyan banker Cheruiyot Kirui, who attempted to scale Mount Everest without using supplementary oxygen has been found dead, a few metres below the summit point.

This was announced on Thursday, May 23 by Everest Today on X, sharing the unfortunate news of his passing.

"He was on a daring mission to reach the summit without supplementary oxygen and was accompanied by a Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa, whose fate is still unknown (was missing with him). 

"His indomitable will and passion for mountaineering will forever be an inspiration. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of sorrow. Rest in peace, Cheruiyot," the statement read.

A Kenyan mountain climber and his guide who attempted to scale Mount Everest without using supplementary oxygen has gone missing near the summit.

The Himalayan Times reported on Wednesday, May 22 that the climber, Cheruiyot Kirui, and his Sherpa guide went out of contact from above 8,000m in the morning hours.

According to Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of Seven Summit Treks (SST), Kirui who attempted to scale Everest without using supplemental oxygen remained out of contact from the Bishop Rock, a few metres below the summit point.

"Kirui, a banker working with a local bank, and his Sherpa guide Nawang were last contacted at the Bishop Rock," Sherpa was quoted as saying.

Kenyan banker Cheruiyot Kirui posing in front of his gear before climbing Mt Everest. /CHERUIYOT KIRUI

Kirui, who wanted to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen, showed abnormal behaviour with his guide, Sherpa quoted Nawang as saying. "Then, the duo went out of contact," he added.

SST has mobilized two Sherpa rescuers to search for them. "They have reached above balcony area," he added.

In the same vein, a Romanian climber died at the same mountain, with expedition organisers led by Mohan Lamsal, Managing Director at Makalu Adventure revealing that Gabriel Tabara of Romania was found dead inside his tent at Camp III on Tuesday, May 21. 

Tavara, 48, was attempting to climb Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga, without using supplementary oxygen.

Mt Everest, which lies at a latitude of about 28 degrees, straddles the borders of Nepal and China. There are many possible routes, but most Everest climbers usually choose between two: the south route in Nepal, and the north route in Tibet.

Climbing Mount Everest has become a popular expedition, however, summiting it requires a lot of experience in mountaineering elsewhere, a certificate of good health, equipment and a trained Nepalese guide. 

The snow and ice on the mountain create deadly hazards, such as avalanches, and there is only a limited climbing season due to bad weather conditions. 

At 8,849 metres, Everest’s summit has approximately one-third the air pressure that exists at sea level. This significantly reduces a climber's ability to breathe in enough oxygen. Because of this, scientists have determined that the human body is not capable of remaining indefinitely above 6,000 metres. 

The chances of success are much less than when climbing without supplemental oxygen, and with a less than 40 per cent success rate, one needs to be extremely fit, compared to a success rate of almost 80 per cent with supplemental oxygen.

Climbers who ascend higher than 8,000 metres on Mount Everest enter the "death zone". In this area, oxygen is so limited that the body's cells start to die, and judgment becomes impaired.