First Everest death of climbing season recorded

Philipp, 45, was preparing to summit 8,849-metre peak

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A Filipino climber has died on Mount Everest, officials said yesterday, becoming the first fatality of this year’s climbing season on the world’s highest mountain.

Philipp Santiago, 45, was preparing to summit the 8,849-metre peak, but was exhausted when he reached the final camp (Camp 4) on Wednesday night, Himal Gautam of Nepal’s tourism department told AFP.

“He died at the place where he was resting,” said Bodha Raj Bhandari, of Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition, which had organised the climb.