After 50 days and 7,000 metres: Mountaineer warded due to chest pain during Everest expedition

Zirpe (53) had embarked upon the expedition on April 2 with mountaineer Vishal Kaduskar. Facing harsh weather conditions for the last 50 days, the duo had reached upto 7,000 metres, through the deadly Khumbu icefall. They were ready for the final summit to Mount Chomolungma when Zirpe suffered chest pain and had to brought to the base camp.

“To climb Mount Everest had been his long-cherished dream. He is at the base camp clinic now and is very nervous because given his age, this was his last attempt to summit Mount Everest. But one has to honour the call of the mountain. Afterall, health and life is important,” said Dr Sumit Mandale, base camp manager.

In 2012, Zirpe led Giripremi’s first civilian expedition wherein under his leadership 11 climbers summitted Mount Everest. Though he did not summit it, he went upto Camp 2. In 2013, he led Giripremi’s Everest Lhotse expedition and reached uptil last camp — South Col 7,900 meters death zone.

“However, due to shortage of bottled oxygen, he sacrificed his summit attempt for other young members and returned from last 800 meters. His gesture was appreciated throughout the mountaineering fraternity. Supplementary oxygen is extremely crucial in South Col, last camp of Everest. Many deaths have taken place in the past due to shortage of bottled oxygen,” added Mandale.