May 19, 2023: A climber from Malaysia tragically lost his life while attempting to climb Mount Everest earlier today. The individual has been identified as police officer Ag Askandar Bin Ampuan Yaacub, according to Nivesh Karki, the Director of the Expedition organizer.
Sources report that Ampuan Yaacub had reached above the south summit but fell ill and was unable to continue climbing. “A team of rescuers assisted the police officer in descending,” stated Karki, who further mentioned that Ampuan Yaacub passed away while descending to Camp IV. Currently, his body is located in South Col, and efforts are underway to bring it down to lower camps, as per sources.
During the spring season, Mount Everest has witnessed a total of nine deaths. Just yesterday, Xuebin Chen, aged 52, tragically passed away near the south summit while making his way towards the summit. An Indian woman also fell ill at the Mount Everest base camp and sadly lost her life in Lukla yesterday morning. Suzanne Leopoldina Jesus, from Mumbai, breathed her last at approximately 5:13 am on May 18 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Lukla.
On May 17, Victor Brinza from Moldova passed away after falling ill at South Col. Phurba Sherpa from Sankhuwasabha also lost his life near Yellow Band, located above Camp III, on May 16. Furthermore, American Doctor Jonathan Sugarman, aged 69, tragically died during his acclimatization rotation at Camp II on May 1.
On April 12, three climbers named Dawa Tseri Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa, and Lakpa Rita Sherpa were buried in an avalanche that struck an icefall route above the base camp.
