Makalu has recorded its second fatality of the 2024 spring climbing season with the death of a French climber.
Johnny Saliba, 60, passed away on Sunday at around 8,120 meters while returning towards the lower camp after the summit, said his liaison officer Madhu Prasad Paiyani.
“We were told that he had complained of illness at 8,350 meters during his summit push,” said Madhu Prasad, adding, “Altitude sickness seems to be the cause of death.”
According to him, his body will be brought to Kathmandu soon and conduct autopsy, which will ascertain the cause of death.
This tragedy comes just a week after Nepali Sherpa guide Lakpa Tenji Sherpa, a member of the Seven Summit Treks, died at Camp III. His last rites were held in Kathmandu on Monday.
These two deaths mark the only fatalities recorded on Nepal’s eight-thousander so far this season
