UKC

Everest controversy continues

© Roland Hunter
Following the worst season in history for deaths on Mount Everest, Russell Brice, owner of one of the biggest commercial expedition organisers operating on the North side of the mountain, has issued a press release with his take on events. Specifically, Brice addresses claims that his outfit and members of his climbing team did not offer assistance to British climber, David Sharp, who died at 8,400m on 15 May. The story of 40 climbers allegedly passing Sharp on the way to the summit, including Mark Inglis, the New Zealand double amputee, made international headlines. Ambushed by the press, Ed Hillary was quick to criticise those who passed Sharp, whilst Stephen Venables and Alan Hinkes gave a more balanced view and cautioned that the circumstances of Sharp's death were unlikely to be so black and white. In his press release Brice states that he was unaware of Sharp's situation until his team were descending, at which point they were on their last reserves of oxygen, and were focussed on helping some of their slower members down, who were suffering from frostbite. Read Brice's Statement.

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16 Jun, 2006
Price's problem (unfortunate as it may be) is that he probably had the only outfit with the ability to possibly bring down Sharpe that day. If we accept that (from a moral point of view) you should provide help - but not if you seriously risk other lives at the same time - then his was the biggest moral dilemma on the mountain at the time.
16 Jun, 2006
Why should he be banned from Guiding?
16 Jun, 2006
Well now it's a disputed question of facts. If Brice did know about Sharp on the way up, and caused him to be ignored, then I guess it's yes. If he didn't (as he claims) then no. But the moral issue dilemma will I'm sure be there again in the future.
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