Rescuers on Tuesday airlifted renowned climbing guide Kami Rita Sherpa from Mount Everest after he suffered an ‘eye-related problem’ during the descent of the 8,848.86-meter peak.
The 52-year-old climbing guide was airlifted by a helicopter to base camp from Camp II of Everest on Tuesday morning, according to Khimlal Gautam, a liaison officer deployed to Everest Base Camp.
“I faced some eye-related problems. At camp II, I took medicine. Now, I’m Okay,” Sherpa told Everest Chronicle before entering into his camp.
The evacuation comes three days after Kami Rita broke his own world record with 26th ascent of the world’s tallest peak while successfully leading a 11-member rope-fixing team to the summit.
Born and raised in the foothills of himalayas, Kami Rita has climbed Everest nearly every year since his first successful ascent of the peak in 1994. He also holds the world record for the highest number of ascents of mountains above 8,000 meters, according to the Guinness book of world records.
Kami Rita started his career as a porter before becoming a high altitude guide. Later, he switched to mountaineering after his brother, Lakpa Rita Sherpa, gave him a break to work as a climbing guide.
In recent years, Kami Rita has been leading the rope fixing team due to his long experience and expertise.
Meanwhile, several expedition agencies are considering the summit push later this week after Kami Rita’s team successfully laid ropes to the summit.
A total of 317 climbers have obtained permits to climb Mount Everest, according to the Department of Tourism.
