Japanese Climber Nobukazu Kuriki Dies on Everest

The Himalayan climbing season is well underway with over 500 climbers having reached the top of Everest already.

Unfortunately, a number of climbers have died this season including 36-year-old Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki, who was found dead in his tent at camp-two on Mon. 21.

In his final Facebook post at 7,400 m, he said, “Namaste, I’m here at 7,400 m now. I feel the pain and the difficulty of this mountain, and I go up and up. I want to proceed very carefully.”

He was an accomplished alpinist and motivational speaker, who lost nine fingers to frostbite on a previous attempt to reach the summit.

“We are in shock,” said Tika Ram Gurung, the managing director of Bochi-Bochi Trek, the climbing company that organized Mr. Kuriki’s trip. “It is a huge loss to the mountaineering world.”

Kuriki is not the first climber to pass away in the Himalayas this season.

Last weekend, Gjeorgi Petkov, 63, a Macedonian climber, died after he collapsed from what appeared to be a cardiac arrest near camp three on the south side of the mountain.

Earlier this month, Lam Babu Sherpa went missing on Everest and an official confirmed Mr. Sherpa’s death and said his bag and shoes had been found.

Russian climber Rustem Amirov died on May 17 near the summit of Lhotse. He fell ill with acute altitude sickness and with the help of Sherpas quickly descended but later passed away.

Bulgarian climber Boyan Petrov was last seen on May 3 near 7,300 m while solo on Shishapangma. There was a large rescue operation and some of his belongings were found.

On social media, well-wishers expressed shock at Kuriki’s death.

“I have respect for you, because you continued to push forward until the very end,” Yasuhiko Kumagai wrote under one of Mr. Kuriki’s posts.

“Thank you so much for your inspiration and courage.”