Kathmandu: At a young age he proved himself as a keen mountaineer, long line rescuer as well as a climbing guide. He had successfully conquered the highest peak of the world nine times. His 10th ascent of the Mt Everest too was successful.
However, on his way down after his tenth ascent of the world’s highest peak, mountaineer Namgyal Sherpa lost his life in Camp 3 on the Tibetan side of the Everest on May 16.
As per a press release issued by Chakra Karki, Namgyal, the president of Friends of Save the Himalayan in Nepal together with Galden Sherpa, had successfully guided their clients to the peak of the Everest the same morning. But Namgyal suddenly collapsed at the height of 8,300 metres while descending, as told by Galden. Namgyal had complained of not feeling well and pointed to his heart when Galden reached him. And a few moments later, Namgyal passed away, informs the statement.
This tragedy on Mt Everest has put the Himalayan Sherpa community in deep remorse, Karki states in the release adding, “Namgyal was a remarkable man with a remarkable life.”
Namgyal, who hailed from a very poor family in remote Khotang district, left his village at a young age and started struggling in Kathmandu. First he worked as a porter for an expedition company, and later as a cook. Eventually he became a senior climbing guide on 8,000 metres-plus expedtions, reveals the press release.
This talented and hard working Sherpa guided clients to the summits of Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma and many other 6,000-metre and 7,000-metere peaks.
Always “motivated to support the natural mountain environment”, Namgyal was also founder of the first Extreme Everest Expedition 2010 — an all-Nepali expedition to clean the slopes of Everest above 8,000 metres. The expedition was able to bring down 2000kg/ 4000lbs of waste and two dead bodies.
Meanwhile, he was always ready to help people in need. As such Namgyal worked to increase access of local people to clean water and modern hygiene facilities in his home region Khotang in collaboration with corporate houses, private banks, NGOs and other organisations.
The head guide for the Everest Peace Project, Climbing for Water’s High Tea Project and famous Ranan Lurie’s Art on Everest project, Namgyal soley created the Everest documentary Snow.
Source: The Himalayan Times
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God bless you Namgyal Sherpa!
Have just watched the documentary about the clearing of the rubbish from Everest. All heroes and so humble. Very sad to hear of Nagyal Sherpas death.
What an amazing human being. An inspiration to be a better man, woman, human. May he rest in peace.
A true hero working to make the world a cleaner place and help others
Watched his 2010 documentary that brought me here
May you rest in peace
Thank you Namgyal, you left Nepal and the world such a beautiful legacy..
His contributions will always be with us and we must all strive to make the world a better place.
May his soul rest in peace
What an inspirational man. Sad to hear of his passing after seeing the documentary. God bless
He has inspired many to help clean the Everest Region so that upcoming generations can also enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas.
His efforts have not gone in vain
I was very touched to hear of Namgyal Sherpa’s passing at the end of the documentary he created to clean up Everest. Also to hear of the loss of Sabin Basnyat, the helicopter pilot who died during a rescue mission on Ama Dablam in 2010.
The world is such a small and fragile place and we are all somehow interconnected. I have been fortunate to have visited Mount Everest twice – on my first visit in 1990, I had heard about the rubbish from the expeditions, and it was affirmed entering the main valley approaching EBC when a piece of toilet paper flew onto my leg. I can only imagine in the 30 years since, the situation has got much worse – so am thankful there are good people like Namgyal and Sabin, who strive to leave the world a better place.
It is sad they were both taken so early.
My second visit to Everest was from Tibet, and by complete coincidence, I realise it was in May 2013, the month that Namgyal died. We walked to within sight of basecamp at the same time he would have been there, climbing from the north side of the mountain.
RIP Namgyal and Sabin.
Indeed, it was an unfortunate incident that took away the heroes that strived to create a better place for everyone.
May there soul rest in peace
Just watched the Documentory! What an Inspiration to us All!! I Was So Sad to see at the end that two Amazing Men lost their lives!! RIP!
RIP I saw this on TV just now and much respect to our friend and all the others trying to clean up after the messy people. RIP x