Body of hiker who went missing near Mount Everest found

Friends of retired teacher say he fell off cliff, efforts now under way to retrieve his body

- Carmen Sin

The body of retired teacher Harry Tan, 76, who went missing while hiking near Mount Everest, was found on Oct 4 after a search-and-rescue operation that lasted more than a week.

Mr Tan reportedly went missing on Sept 26 near the 5,500m-high Kongma La Pass in Nepal, which is south of Everest Base Camp.

Friends of Mr Tan whom The Straits Times spoke to said he had fallen off a cliff, and efforts are now under way to retrieve his body.

Trekking websites describe the Kongma La Pass as a challenging route, at an altitude that is higher than Everest Base Camp.

It offers views of Mount Everest and is part of the Three Passes Trek that can take about two to three weeks to complete.

Mr Raj Tamang, 58, who hiked to Everest Base Camp with Mr Tan in 2019, said: “I've been in shock for the last nine days. I was hoping against hope; I thought if anyone could survive this, it was Harry.”