Hundreds of crowded climbers have been captured on footage slowly making their way up the summit of Everest close to where a British climber and his guide went missing on Tuesday after they were hit by collapsing ice.
Experts fear overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain may have played a role in causing the collapse of a cornice – an overhanging mass of hardened snow on the edge of a precipice – which led to the disappearance of Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and Pastenji Sherpa, 23.
The pair have not been heard from since they reached the summit at around 4.40am local time on Tuesday and are feared dead.
Mr Paterson and his guide ran into trouble after ice collapsed and fell on them near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at around 8,800 metres, according to Lapka Sherpa.
The Everest guide said they had ‘heroically’ reached the top of the world’s highest peak before going missing as they descended.
Hundreds of crowded climbers are seen slowly making their way up the summit of Everest close to where British climber Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and his guide went missing on Tuesday
Experts fear overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain may have played a role in causing the collapse of a cornice – an overhanging mass of hardened snow on the edge of a precipice – which led to the disappearance of Mr Paterson and his guide, Pastenji Sherpa, 23
Climbers pictured near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at around 8,800 metres, where the ice collapse happened on Tuesday
One expert revealed four others ‘nearly perished’ in the ice collapse on Tuesday. Pictured: Lines of climbers, just inches apart, make their way up the summit
Footage shows the queue of climbers waiting to ascend the mountain snakes all the way down to the base camp
Missing Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, is pictured on May 11 ahead of his climb to the summit
Now videos and photos posted in recent days by fellow climbers show what appears to be hundreds of climbers crowding along the Hillary Step, as one expert revealed four others ‘nearly perished’ in the ice collapse on Tuesday, Yahoo! News reports.
Vinayak Malla, an accredited guide with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, said: ‘After summiting, we crossed the Hillary Step, traffic was moving slowly then suddenly a cornice collapsed a few metres ahead of us.
‘As the cornice collapsed, four climbers nearly perished yet were clipped onto the rope and self-rescued.
‘Sadly, two climbers are still missing. We tried to traverse yet it was impossible due to the traffic on the fixed line.’
Meanwhile, a member of a team at Everest base camp told The Times: ‘A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side.’
Overcrowding on Everest has become of increasing concern to experts and officials in recent years.
In 2019, 11 people died between March to May during the climbing season, prompting Kul Bahadur Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association to say that ‘there were more people on Everest than there should be’.
With Mr Paterson’s disappearance entering a fourth day, his partner Beck Woodhead vowed that she will ‘do everything’ to bring him home, and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise £150,000 for a search and rescue operation.
So far the page has raised £107,000.
Daniel Paterson previously said it had always been his dream to ‘conquer’ the Everest summit. Pictured right: Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23
The fitness enthusiast dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club, and recently announced the group had raised £10,000 for her family
The research nurse said that her partner ‘is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to helping others,’ as she issued a plea saying: ‘Now, it is our turn to help him.’
She described him as a passionate Leeds United fan, as well as a ‘beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud joint owner of Wakefield Crossfit.’
The British climber, who is believed to be from Wakefield, was described by Sherpa Lapka as being ‘known for his robust fitness, uplifting positivity, and strong determination’.
The missing men were part of a 15-strong team with 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe.
Sherpa Lapka said his collague Pastenji was a ‘dedicated climber from his youth, with impressive climbs under his belt including twice on Mt. Everest, K2, Amadablam, and several other 6,000m peaks.’
‘His warm spirit, kindness, and outstanding expertise made him one of the premier guides at 8K Expeditions,’ he added.
Mr Paterson, who was known to his friends as ‘Pat’, was also a ‘committed’ climber, and had trained in the Himalayas last year.
He previously said he was emotional when he saw the Everest summit, telling his followers: ‘My dream will always be to conquer this.’
He dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that members had raised £10,000 for her family.
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 metres (26,246 feet) and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring climbing season.
Everest is only climbable in the short windows of clear weather when the winds are calm.
This has led to long queues forming at challenging sections, leaving climbers waiting in the freezing cold and burning through their valuable oxygen supplies.
Earlier this month, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, went missing on Everest.
The pair, who had not relied on sherpa guides, were found dead a week later at two different locations after summiting the peak.
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