The family of the late Kenyan mountain climber Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui has revealed what led to the passing on of their kin while issuing an update on the tragic demise of the mountaineer at Mt Everest.
Cheruiyot’s family in a holding statement on Friday May 23 issued an update after the banker was confirmed to have passed away while attempting to scale the heights of Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen.
The family gave details about the unfortunate incident, revealing his cause of death as per the information gathered by the time of issuing the statement.
According to the family, Kirui is believed to have died after he together with his Sherpa guide took a fall.
The family, however, noted that it was difficult to establish the sequences that led to the tragic demise of their kin who was in an expedition of the world’s tallest mountain.
Cheruiyot Kirui’s Family Issues Statement
“We are all saddened by what happened to our brother Cheruiyot Kirui on Mt. Everest. Whereas it is not possible to determine the exact sequence of events, we know that Cheruiyot and his sherpa took a fall,” read part of the statement.
Also Read: Cheruiyot Kirui: Inspiring Career of Banker who Died Climbing Mt Everest
Cheruiyot’s family further noted that the climber lost radio communication with basecamp early morning of May 22 on his summit push.
He was reported missing by his expedition company who responded immediately, dispatching a team of rescue sherpas stationed at camp 4 to the point of last contact.
The family disclosed that the dispatched team managed to locate Kirui’s body just 48 meters shy of the summit.
“Cheruiyot’s body was discovered at an altitude of 8,800m, 48 meters from the summit,” the statement adds.
At the same time, the family extended its condolences to Kirui’s friends, colleagues and the wider outdoor community and expressed hope in the search for the deceased’s guide who is still missing.
“Search for Nawang Sherpa continues and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family in Nepal and pray that he is found. Thank you and God Bless,” the statement reads in part.
However, the family did not disclose if the banker’s body has been retrieved from the mountain or anything about plans to bring the body back home.
Kirui’s family further announced that more information will be shared in due course.
Kenyan Mountaineer Reported Dead
The update by the family comes after Nepali publication Everest Today that tracks mountaineering activities in the Himalayas, broke the news of Kirui’s death.
Everest Today in a statement on Wednesday May 22 said that Cheruiyot, a banker at local lender Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), was found dead after earlier being confirmed missing alongside his Nepali guide.
Also Read: Kenyan Climber Confirmed Dead After Going Missing on Mt Everest
The organization in a statement said that the Kenyan climber’s body was found near the summit point of Mt Everest, some 8,000 meters above sea level.
“He was on a daring mission to reach the summit without supplementary oxygen and was accompanied by a Nepali climber Nawang Sherpa, whose fate is still unknown,” said Everest Today.
Cheruiyot was pursuing his dream of being able to reach the summit of the world tallest mountain without supplemental oxygen.
Climbing Mt Everest
The experienced climber had disclosed about the tough quest he was up against while also warning of the possible risks.
While issuing an update about his mission through his social media page, Kirui had made arrangements for his guide Sherpa to ferry an emergency bottle of oxygen to be used only under specific circumstances.
Back on May 17, Kirui had in a Facebook post shared that he was open to using supplemental oxygen if he “went lights out or if he went bananas.”
He also said he would use supplemental oxygen if he was time-barred, saying that too much time in the death zone is dangerous.
Kirui had further highlighted that the mission would be impossible if he did not move strongly or quickly enough in the danger zone.
At higher altitudes, most mountaineers while climbing past 7,000 meters at Mt Everest use supplementary oxygen as the world’s tallest mountain is nearly incapable of sustaining human life.
Past around 8,000 meters, famously known as the ‘death zone’, the air at Mt Everest is extremely thin.
In addition, temperatures are below 0°C and the high winds are powerful enough to blow a person off the mountain.
While at the danger zone, climbers face high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE), where one’s brain is starved of oxygen.
This starvation results in brain swelling, causing drowsiness, trouble speaking and thinking, and one might also experience episodes of delusion and blurred vision.
Cheruiyot Kirui Mourned
Following his death, Cheruiyot was mourned as a national hero with a majority section celebrating his previous successes of conquering different mountains including Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro.
His employer KCB Bank mourned him while disclosing that he was a dedicated Senior Relationships Manager – Schemes, Mortgage Division and a valued KCB staff member until his untimely demise.
KCB Chief Executive Officer Paul Russo in a statement on May 23 said the lender is saddened by his untimely demise.
“We extend our words of encouragement and heartfelt prayers of strength and comfort to his family, colleagues, and loved ones as we navigate this difficult period,” Russo said.
Russo added that the fallen climber who he described as a passionate athlete and mountaineer both locally and beyond will be remembered as a dedicated employee.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei also sent a tribute to Cheruiyot noting that the climber had met him before he embarked on his journey to Asia.
“Really gutted by this news. Kirui my friend and banker at KCB passed by my office before he left for Nepal on this adventure. I have been following his exploits until this unfortunate end,” said the PS.
Korir mourned him as a fearless, audacious spirit who represents the indomitable will of many Kenyans, adding that he shall be greatly missed.
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