[Mr. Brightside]

he even acknowledged that he was OK. ... then why was the climbers original story that they knew he was dying on the way up?

Both could be true. It would not be unusual for a climber to signal that he is ok, when those around him doubt it.

[palmer]

I realize your hypothetical could be true. My question is, did the climbers call down about him on their way up as they first stated on Australian TV, or is the version of the story posted in this thread correct? They can't both be correct.