Nepal's legendary mountaineer Ang Rita Sherpa dies

Kathmandu, September 21

Ang Rita Sherpa, the legendary Nepalese mountaineer who scaled Mt Everest 10 times without bottled oxygen, died here on Monday at the age of 72, the country’s Mountaineering Association said.

Rita, who was nicknamed the ‘Snow Leopard’ due to his adventures, was suffering from various diseases, including liver dysfunction. He died at his residence in Kathmandu.

“Ang Rita Sherpa was a legendary mountaineer who scaled Mount Everest 10 times between 1983 and 1996 without oxygen. He died today (Monday) at his residence here,” Tikaram Gurung, secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Association, said.

He was suffering from brain and liver problems, a daily reported.

Born in a middle-class family in Solukhumbu, Rita is survived by two sons and a daughter.

The mountaineering legend was awarded the prestigious Guinness World Record certificate for making the most number of successful ascents on the the 8,848-meter Mt Everest without using oxygen.

The Guiness World Record recognised him as the first man to climb Everest in winter without supplementary oxygen in December 1987. PTI