Australian mountaineer Matthew Eakin dies in accident trying to climb K2 in the Himalayas

A ‘shining star’ of Australian mountaineering has died in a tragic accident while climbing the world’s second-highest mountain.

The body of Matthew Eakin has been found on K2, known as the Savage Mountain, in the Himalayas after he went missing a week ago.

Tributes for the Sydney man from friends and the climbing community flooded social media.

‘I will always see your smile in the clouds,’ wrote Felicity Symons in one of many Facebook tributes.

‘Rest easy my dear friend on the mountains you loved.’  

The body of Matthew Eakin was retrieved from K2, known as the Savage Mountain, in the Himalayas after he went missing a week ago (Pictured, Mr Eakin gives a thumbs up on the K2 climb that was to be his last)

It is believed Mr Eakin and Richard Cartier fell on a steep snow slope during their descent (Pictured, Mr Eakin at left)

Mr Eakin was on a trek with two Canadian men, Richard Cartier and Justin Dube-Fahmy. Mr Eakin and Mr Cartier both went missing.

Both their bodies were recovered. 

On July 21, Mr Dube-Fahmy posted online that the trio were exhausted after 16 hours climbing and that Mr Eakin and Mr Cartier were heading back to base camp.

It is believed both men fell on a steep snow slope during their descent.

At 8,611 metres, K2 is the world’s second-tallest mountain but is considered a more dangerous climb than the highest peak, Mount Everest, due to its steeper faces and extreme weather.

Since record were first kept 95 people have died climbing K2. 

Mr Eakin was an experienced mountaineer who had climbed the mountain previously.

A mountaineering guide from Pakistan, Kashif Ali, said Mr Eakin was a ‘legend’.

‘This is really tragic news, Matthew Eakin was the founder of the excellent FB page Mountaineers Downunder and has made a huge contribution to the mountaineering community in Australia.

‘Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will miss you forever great legend.’ 

A devastated Bree Shedden, his former college friend, said Mr Eakin fulfilled the big plans he had in life. 

At 8,611 metres, K2 is the world’s second-tallest mountain but is considered a more dangerous and difficult climb than the highest peak, Mount Everest

Mr Eakin was a popular figure in the Australian mountaineering scene. He is pictured with a friend Jo Nevin

‘You will be on my mind forever and always,’ wrote a Nepalese friend, Suman Mahara

‘The only silver lining in this is that he always told me he was going to journey the world, he wanted to run all the way across Australia to start!

‘Even at 19 years old he was planning big things. He sure did live life to the fullest which was exactly what he always said he would do.

‘Fly high Matt, Thankyou so much for all the fun times and memories… another shining star gone way too soon.’

Another friend, Jimmy Smith, lamented that Mr Eakin would not make it home. 

‘It only seems like last year we were sitting in Nepal, eating pizza and going through all our photos. Sorry your not coming home this year.’

Another friend, Jo Nevin posted ‘You’ve grown your wings way too soon. Love you Matty.’

‘You will be on my mind forever and always,’ wrote a Nepalese friend, Suman Mahara.

Mr Eakin founded a Facebook group, Mountaineering Downunder, which has nearly 3,000 members.