Everest Pioneer Climber Blasts Group Who Left Dying Man

ABC NEWS INTERNATIONAL ^ | May 24th 2006 | STEVE McMORRAN

[Mad Dawgg]

Everest Pioneer Climber Blasts Group Who Left Dying Man

Pioneering Everest Climber Sir Edmund Hillary Blasts Dozens of Climbers Who Left Dying British Man

WELLINGTON, New Zealand May 24, 2006 (AP)— Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary said Wednesday he was shocked that dozens of climbers left a British mountaineer to die during their own attempts on the world's tallest peak.

David Sharp, 34, died apparently of oxygen deficiency while descending from the summit during a solo climb last week.

More than 40 climbers are thought to have seen him as he lay dying, and almost all continued to the summit without offering assistance.

"Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain," Hillary was quoted as saying in an interview with New Zealand Press Association.

[Mad Dawgg]

I think maybe Sir Edmund has some "Gravitas" when it comes to proceedure and climbing Everest.

I am glad he spoke up!

[Toddsterpatriot]

He's a great man. That's why Hillary's parents gave her his name.

[KarlInOhio]

Isn't he the beekeeper and obscure WW II airplane navigator that "she who must not be named" was named after?

[Mad Dawgg]

Yep.

[cardinal4]

He's a great man. That's why Hillary's parents gave her his name.

LOL!

[Joe 6-pack]

"I am glad he spoke up!"

Likewise. I'm tired of listening to all the amoral 'pros' talk about how walking by this guy was the best for all involved.

Sir Edmund clearly is made of far better stuff.

[Mad Dawgg]

"Likewise. I'm tired of listening to all the amoral 'pros' talk about how walking by this guy was the best for all involved."

Ditto!

[hellinahandcart]

More than 40 climbers are thought to have seen him as he lay dying, and almost all continued to the summit without offering assistance.

Well, of course. Their recreation was at stake.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

"Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain,"

Yep. I really don't get why they did not at least try to help.

Maybe they could do nothing but sit with him or make his passing a bit more comfortable but even that little bit of humanity is more important then what they were doing.

[David Allen]

What next? People walking around a heart attack victim at an NFL game because THEY HAVE TICKETS!!

[Joe 6-pack]

"Well, of course. Their recreation was at stake."

What a tight-knit band of brothers these professional climbers must be. Imagine one selflessly laying down his life for the vanity of all the rest....

[SJSAMPLE]

Back in Hillary's day, people making these attempts were not considered "tourists" that were part of an anonymous group. Back then, expeditions consisted of GROUPS of people who trained and worked alongside eachother.

Nowadays, people fork over cash and apply. Many of them have no business being there. The goal is to climb the mountain. Any other goal means that they'd never even approach the summit, given the capabilities of many climbers in these "teams".

[HIDEK6]

Well, of course. Their recreation was at stake.

All day long, "Hit the ball, drag Charlie. Hit the ball, drag Charlie."

[abner]

Continued here...

[Mad Dawgg]

"What a tight-knit band of brothers these professional climbers must be. Imagine one selflessly laying down his life for the vanity of all the rest...."

I think we ought find out who all these 40 fearless men and women are who let nothing stand in the way of making the summit. Let their names be shouted from the mountaintops and let it be known just what they did to get there.

Let them bask in the glory they so richly deserve! I believe Everest is situated in a land where Karma is taken seriously. Let us help these folks experience Karma to the fullest extent!

[USNBandit]

Maybe the favor will be returned some day on an icy slope somewhere.

[againstallhope]

I've got a question. Those folks take along some kind of oxygen supply right? How much does it supplement? I wonder if that played into it. Without a decent air supply it feels like your whole body is dying. You get tunnel vision. You don't think clearly. I can see how otherwise rational people just might develop a very hard screw you attitude.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Old school explorers were old school in terms of ethics as well. Today's explorers are mainly thrill junkies and if they claim ethics, it is with the usual pedestrian enviro-socialist clap-trap. This doesn't surprise me one bit. Contrast this clutch of yahoos with somebody like Mallory or Scott or Shackleton.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Yep. If you fall out on the mountain, looks like it is just tough sh** for you. Getting to the top for the personal glory is the whole deal.

"In the desert, no man meets a friend."

[laconic]

Listen, they are now part of a select group of only 1,500 (that's FIFTEEN HUNDRED) people who have successfully climbed Mt. Everest, even if they had to pay $60,000 or so to a guide to do so and ignored a dying man in the process. Real "macho" jocks, eh?