Sir Edmund Hillary Passes Away

Hillary, Sir Edmund Percival (1919-2008 ), mountain climber and Antarctic explorer, who, along-with Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, was the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest (8848 m/29,028 ft), the world's highest peak.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II (1939-1945), renowned as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers, has passed away. In reality this heroic figure, who not only ‘knocked off’ Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity.

He obtained his early mountaineering experience in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. In 1951 and 1952 he participated in expeditions to the Himalayas. He joined the British Mount Everest Expedition in 1953 as one of the chief climbers. Hillary reached the summit on May 29, 1953, and was knighted for the achievement later that year. In 1955 he was appointed leader of the New Zealand party of a transantarctic expedition, which was sponsored by the Commonwealth of Nations and headed by Vivian E. Fuchs.

He led his party across Antarctica by tractor, reaching the South Pole on January 4, 1958, the first person to do so by overland journey since Robert F. Scott in 1912. He subsequently led several expeditions to the Himalayas.

Among his writings is the autobiography Nothing Venture, Nothing Win (1975). The legendary mountaineer, adventurer and philanthropist is the best known New-Zealander who devoted his life to aiding the mountiain people of Nepal and took his fame in stride preffered to be called “Ed”.

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