Sign InRegister

Left Everest climber still alive

There have been 15 deaths on Mt. Everest so far this year.

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- An Australian mountaineer left for dead near the summit of Mt. Everest has been found alive after spending a night out on the world's highest mountain, but remains severely ill with frostbite and altitude sickness.

Lincoln Hall, 50, was initially reported to have died of cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, as he descended the mountain, according to expedition leader Alexander Abramov, on internet site www.mounteverest.net.

However, climbers ascending the next day discovered Hall still alive near the peak and launched an immediate rescue operation.

Hall's survival comes a week after British climber David Sharp died after getting into difficulties on his descent from the 8,850 metre (29,035 foot) summit. Several groups of climbers passed Sharp but did not stop to help.

Abramov said on the website that Hall was being checked by a doctor at the North Col camp at 7,000 metres, but remained in an extremely serious condition. Another member of the expedition, Thomas Weber, died on the mountain.

Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, has criticised the commercialisation of climbing the world's highest mountain, saying he would have abandoned his attempt to reach the summit to save another climber's life.

There have been 15 deaths this year on Everest according to mountaineering website www.everestnews.com.

In 2005, a record 101 expeditions tackled Everest, while the 2006 season will see 82 teams attempting climbing the mountain.