UKC

Sir Edmund Hillary Dies

© Hillary collection
"I continued hacking steps along the ridge and then up a few more to the right... to my great delight I realised we were on top of Mount Everest and that the whole world spread out below us,"

Sir Edmund Hillary passed away in New Zealand on Friday, aged 88.

Sir Edmund and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first men to climb Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. They were members of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by Lord John Hunt. Norguay passed away in 1986, Lord Hunt in 1998.

Sir Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919 in Tuakau, New Zealand.

After Everest he devoted his life to the Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region. In 1960 he established The Himalayan Trust to help battle poverty in the region building schools, clinics and bridges. He was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.

Sir Edmund Hillary's family have accepted an offer by the New Zealand government to hold a state funeral.

You can make a donation to the Himalayan Trust at www.himalayantrust.co.uk

More information:
New Zealand Herald:nzherald.co.nz
Sir Edmund Hillary Timeline:tvnz.co.nz
BBC obituary:news.bbc.co.uk

UKClimbing.com Memorial Forum Thread; HERE


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10 Jan, 2008
already a thread by kendo but good to hear you care.
10 Jan, 2008
Sincere Condolences to family, friends, and all climbers. Rest his soul.
11 Jan, 2008
He is having a state funeral - such is the respect accorded to the man
11 Jan, 2008
may he Everest in peace - a true boys own hero
11 Jan, 2008
I think the best stuff he did was all that amazing work afterwards to improve people's lives. Some serious commitment and care going on there. Much respect.
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