Cheruiyot Kirui, Kenyan mountaineer who went missing on Mt Everest, has been found dead.
His body, according to Everest Today, was found a few metres below the summit point of Mt Everest.
“He was on a daring mission to reach the summit without supplementary oxygen and was accompanied by a Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa, whose fate is still unknown (was missing with him),” Everest Today says.
“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.”
Kirui was attempting to become the second Kenyan to climb Mt. Everest, and the first to do it without supplementary oxygen.
The search for his Sherpa guide, Nawang, is still ongoing.
“Nawang had last communicated with the base camp officials from Bishop Rock that Kirui refused to return and even consume bottled oxygen but showed abnormal behavior,” base camp officials said.
Cheruiyot Kirui, a banker, was on a mission to test the limits of human endurance by summiting the world’s highest mountain. His ambitious quest, however, took a turn for the worst when contact with him and his guide was suddenly cut off.
The incident has raised concerns about climbers’ safety on Mt. Everest, particularly in light of recent disasters.
Earlier this season, 48-year-old Romanian climber Gabriel Tabara was found dead in his tent in Camp III. Tabara, like Kirui, was making an attempt to climb without supplemental oxygen, emphasizing the perilous nature of such an endeavor.
Kirui isn’t new to climbing. He summited Mt. Manaslu (8,163m) without supplemental oxygen in September 2023, becoming the first African to do so. His other remarkable climbs include multiple speed ascents of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m), when he accomplished the round journey in under 15 hours. Kirui has also summited Mt. Kenya (5,199m) 20 times, setting course records on all three major routes.
