Sir Edmund Hillary dies in New Zealand at age 88

[Imua 0]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7182376.stm

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, has died aged 88.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described the explorer as a heroic figure and said all New Zealanders would deeply mourn his passing.

Sir Edmund's health had reportedly been in decline since April, when he suffered a fall while visiting Nepal.

He was the first man to climb the 8,850m (29,035ft) peak with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953.

Returning to Everest base camp, he famously greeted another member of the British expedition group with the words: "Well, George, we've knocked the ####### off."

After the ascent, Sir Edmund led a number of expeditions to the South Pole and devoted his life to helping the Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region.

His Himalayan Trust has helped build hospitals, clinics, bridges, airstrips and nearly 30 schools. He was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.

'Quintessential Kiwi'

Announcing Sir Edmund's death in Auckland after a brief illness, New Zealand's prime minister described him as a "heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity".

"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived," Ms Clark said in a statement.

"But most of all he was a quintessential Kiwi."

"He was ours - from his craggy appearance to laconic style to his directness and honesty. All New Zealanders will deeply mourn his passing."

National pride

The British adventurer and environmentalist, Pen Hadow, said Sir Edmund's death "closes one of the great chapters of planetary exploration".

"He was physically and metaphorically at the pinnacle of high adventure," the Dartmoor-based Arctic and Antarctic explorer told the Press Association.

Born 19 July 1919, in Auckland, New Zealand, Sir Edmund began climbing mountains in his native country as a teenager and earned renown as an ice climber.

He also served as a pilot during World War II and as New Zealand's ambassador to India in the 1980s.

The BBC's Greg Ward in Auckland says Sir Edmund was arguably the most respected man in New Zealand.

His death has prompted an immediate outpouring of sympathy in New Zealand, with messages of condolences flooding in from around the globe, our correspondent says.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

[HAL 9000 96]

May he climb higher peaks now... RIP

[Nagishkaw 510]

How very sad to read of his passing.

[almaty 19]

a person i admired..sad news

[maya62 7]

This man made a HUGE difference in the lives of the Sherpa people in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. We had the opportunity to visit one of the schools he built in Kumjung (just off the trail to Everest Base Camp, above Namche Bazaar), and have lunch with one of the students there who knew another member of our party. Seeing the difference education has made to the people's quality of life there is a real inspiration. It is heartening to see an example of western "aid" that has been established in a mindful fashion. What a loss... I can only imagine the mourning that is going on in the Solo Khumbu right now.

RIP

[Nessa 23]

dayum, I though Hillary died when I read this thread's title

[almaty 19]

dayum, I though Hillary died when I read this thread's title

[simple_male 1]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7182376.stm

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, has died aged 88.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described the explorer as a heroic figure and said all New Zealanders would deeply mourn his passing.

Sir Edmund's health had reportedly been in decline since April, when he suffered a fall while visiting Nepal.

He was the first man to climb the 8,850m (29,035ft) peak with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953.

Returning to Everest base camp, he famously greeted another member of the British expedition group with the words: "Well, George, we've knocked the ####### off."

After the ascent, Sir Edmund led a number of expeditions to the South Pole and devoted his life to helping the Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region.

His Himalayan Trust has helped build hospitals, clinics, bridges, airstrips and nearly 30 schools. He was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.

'Quintessential Kiwi'

Announcing Sir Edmund's death in Auckland after a brief illness, New Zealand's prime minister described him as a "heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity".

"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived," Ms Clark said in a statement.

"But most of all he was a quintessential Kiwi."

"He was ours - from his craggy appearance to laconic style to his directness and honesty. All New Zealanders will deeply mourn his passing."

National pride

The British adventurer and environmentalist, Pen Hadow, said Sir Edmund's death "closes one of the great chapters of planetary exploration".

"He was physically and metaphorically at the pinnacle of high adventure," the Dartmoor-based Arctic and Antarctic explorer told the Press Association.

Born 19 July 1919, in Auckland, New Zealand, Sir Edmund began climbing mountains in his native country as a teenager and earned renown as an ice climber.

He also served as a pilot during World War II and as New Zealand's ambassador to India in the 1980s.

The BBC's Greg Ward in Auckland says Sir Edmund was arguably the most respected man in New Zealand.

His death has prompted an immediate outpouring of sympathy in New Zealand, with messages of condolences flooding in from around the globe, our correspondent says.

He was an extra ordinary man.