Nepal's 'snow leopard' has died: 10 times on Everest without oxygen

Ang Rita Sherpa was 72 years old. He achieved his record in 1996. His body will be cremated tomorrow according to Buddhist tradition.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Ang Rita Sherpa, nicknamed "the snow leopard" for having climbed Mount Everest 10 times without any oxygen tank, died yesterday at the age of 72. His family said he had brain and liver problems.

Born in the Himalayan region, Ang Rita began his career as a climber as a teenager, helping foreign climbers as a porter. He later became a guide and from 1983 to 1996 climbed Mount Everest (8848 meters) without oxygen. This feat earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records in 2017. That record has not yet been broken. He has also worked on conservation projects and for the protection of the Himalayan environment.

The Nepalese tourism department said Ang Rita's contribution "will always be remembered".

His body was composed in a monastery in Kathmandu and will be cremated tomorrow, according to Buddhist tradition. Ang Rita leaves behind a daughter and two sons.