By Peter Ochieng
Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui is dead.
He reportedly died trying to climb Mt Everest, the World’s highest mountain which lies on the Nepal – Chinese border.
According to Everest Today, Cheruiyot’s body was discovered few metres below the summit point of the mountain.
“With profound sadness, we share the news of Kenyan mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui’s passing on Mt Everest. His body was found a few metres below the summit point of Mt Everest.”
Aided by Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa, the Kenyan was reportedly on a daring mission to reach the summit without supplementary oxygen. Sherpa’s fate is still unknown.
“His indomitable will and passion for mountaineering will forever be an inspiration. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time of sorrow. Rest in peace, Cheruiyot,” added Everest Today in a post on X.
Cheruiyot was a banker and climbed to the peak of Mt Kenya over 15 times.
In March, 2024, he said he aimed at becoming the first African to climb Mt Everest without supplementary oxygen.
“It is riskier than climbing with supplemental oxygen. You need to be extremely fit. The success rate of climbing without supplemental oxygen is less than 40 per cent,” he stated.
“Climbing Everest has been done before. I think the only difference is what I’m trying to do, climbing without supplemental oxygen. That has not been done by any African. It’s the tough way to climb Mt Everest,” he added.
Mount Everest’s elevation (snow height) of 8,848.86 was most recently established in 2020 by the Chinese and Nepali authorities.
It attracts many climbers, including highly experienced mountaineers. There are two main climbing routes, one approaching the summit from the southeast in Nepal (known as the standard route) and the other from the north in Tibet.
While not posing substantial technical climbing challenges on the standard route, Everest presents dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind, as well as hazards from avalanches or falls.
As of November 2022, 310 people had died on Everest. Over 200 bodies remain on the mountain and have not been removed due to the dangerous conditions.
By the end of the 2010 climbing season, there had been 5,104 ascents to the summit by about 3,142 individuals.