Tributes as Irish climber Noel Hanna dies while climbing world’s 10th-highest mountain
Picture Noel File Hanna
A mountaineer from Northern Ireland died while descending from the summit of the world’s 10th highest peak and an Indian climber is missing on the same mountain, climbing officials said on Tuesday.
Noel Hanna, who had climbed Mount Everest 10 times, scaled the 8,091 metres (26,545 feet) Annapurna peak in west Nepal on Monday and died overnight in Camp IV after descending from the peak.
Yubaraj Khatiwada, an official of the Department of Tourism, said the circumstances of Mr Hanna’s death were unclear.
He said an Indian climber, who fell into a crevasse on the lower reaches of Annapurna, has been missing since Monday.
Two other Indian mountaineers, who were caught up in bad weather while climbing Annapurna, were being rescued, hiking company officials said.
Annapurna peak in west Nepal, first climbed by Maurice Herzog of France in the early 1950s, is considered dangerous because of the risk of frequent avalanches.
Mr Hanna’s friend and fellow mountaineer Pat Falvy told RTÉ that details were scant, but it is believed that he died at base camp after returning from the mountain’s summit.
“I got a text in from my people in Kathmandu… which said that Noel had passed away,” he said.
Mr Hanna was an experienced climber, having reached the summit of Mount Everest 10 times and was the first person from the island of Ireland to successfully climb and descend from K2, the world’s second highest mountain.
He lived in Dromore in Co Down with his wife Lynne, who is also an experienced climber, and the two had scaled Everest together in 2016.
Mourne Mountain Adventures said it was “very saddened” to hear of the death of Mr Hanna and sent its condolences to his family and his wife.
“There is some peace in that he spent his last moments doing what he loved best, such a great man and one of Northern Ireland’s finest mountaineers,” it said.
DUP MLA for Antrim Paul Frew said on Twitter: “So sorry to hear of the death of Noel Hanna from Northern Ireland who had just become the 1st Irish climber to summit Annapurna.
“Noel was an absolute legend climbing K2, Manaslu, and Everest 10 times! My thoughts & prayers are with his family at this sad time.”
At least 365 people have climbed Annapurna and more than 72 have died on the mountain, according to hiking officials.
Last week, three Nepali sherpa climbers died after being hit by an ice serac on the lower parts of Mount Everest.
Nepal has eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains. Climbing Himalayan peaks and hiking on their foot hills are popular adventure sports as well as a source of employment and income for the country which is tucked between China and India.