Cheruiyot Kirui’s History as Bravest Mt Everest Kenyan Climber
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The late Kenyan-born mountaineer Cheruiyot Kirui is behind the global wave of Mt Everest Kenyan climbers. Kirui took his last breath while doing what he loved most: summiting.
However, the grueling nature of Mt Everest in the Himalayas gave him eternal rest but shocked the world.
His passing triggered a fierce debate across Kenyan socials. Some praised his heroism in attempting to summit Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen. Others, though, termed it an intentional journey of no return. All considered, Kirui breathed his last doing what he loved most: mountain climbing.
Who Was Mt Everest Kenyan Climber?
Mt Everest Kenyan climber Cheruiyot Kirui was a banker by profession, working with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). His biggest dream was to summit Mt Everest at 8,848.86 meters above sea level without supplemental oxygen.
Kirui kept his followers on Instagram abreast with his daring escapade in the Himalayas. But he went radio silent and missing on Wednesday, May 22, only to be found lifeless the following day.
He was together with a Nepali guide, Nawang Sherpa, at Everest’s death zone – 8,000 meters, just below the summit point. Sherpa’s body was still missing by the time of publishing this article.
According to the Himalayan Times, the deceased Kenyan banker lost contact with Bishop Rock where he was. ?A search rescue by Seven Summit Treks discovered his body beneath the summit.
Everest hardly supports human life at higher elevations, and most mountaineers require additional oxygen above 7,000 meters to survive. Beyond 8,000 meters, mountaineers without supplemental oxygen enter the infamous zone of death.
The air becomes exceedingly thin, the temperature drops to below freezing, and the strong winds make it harder to summit. The winds are so strong that they could sweep a human being away from the mountain. This zone is also prone to avalanches.
The greatest risk that the Mt Everest Kenyan climber faced was developing high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) caused by oxygen starvation to the brain. It leads to brain swelling and haziness.
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Aware of the risk of failing to have supplemental oxygen, Kirui armed himself with medicine to battle any of these conditions.? He had dexamethasone, nifedipine, and acetaminophen, among others, but he never made it.
How Much Do You Need to Climb Mt Everest?
Kirui had a budget of $50,860 (roughly Ksh7 million) for his daring adventure. The cost covers his full trip, including air tickets from Kenya to the Himalayas, located on the border of China and Nepal. Further, it covers the cost of hiring a mountain guide, climbing fee ($10,000), supplemental oxygen tank, tents, and food, among other things.
Unfortunately, he did not consider using supplemental oxygen. In one of his Instagram posts, he explained that he would only climb to the summit without supplemental oxygen to know his body's limits. He did, but he never reached the summit.
Who is the Famous Climber of Mount Everest?
The unsuccessful Mt Everest Kenyan climber sought to break a record by Tenzing Norgay (Tibet) and Edmund Hillary (New Zealand). The duo became the world’s first ever to summit Mt Everest, where they spent 15 minutes on May 29, 1953.
Many Indians and Nepalese Norgay a mythical after summitting the world’s highest mountain. His numerous honors were the Star of Nepal and the George Medal from Britain.
Learn more about Cheruiyot Kirui’s History as Bravest Mt Everest Kenyan Climber.
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