Brit climber and guide are missing on Mount Everest after 'ice fall'
- Daniel Paul Paterson and Pas Tenji Sherpa not been heard from since Tuesday
A British climber and his guide are missing on Mount Everest after ice collapsed and fell on their expedition, according to local reports.
Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23, have not been heard from since they reached the summit at about 4.40am local time on Tuesday, Nepalese officials said.
'A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side,' a member of a team at Everest base camp told The Times.
The collapse is reported to have happened at Hillary Step, a nearly vertical rock face just beneath the summit of the world's highest peak.
An expedition has been launched to find the men, but hopes are fading that anyone could survive more than a day in an area known as the 'death zone' due to its high altitude.
Missing Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, is pictured on May 11 ahead of his climb to the summit
Mr Paterson with his partner Beck Woodhead. She said yesterday that she had not heard from
Mr Paterson's partner Beck Woodhead said yesterday that she had not heard from her partner and was waiting for news with their families.
The fitness enthusiast had dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club, and recently announced the group had raised £10,000 for her family.
A Sherpa with the group shared an update earlier today, informing followers that the expedition had successfully reached the summit but adding that the two men then went missing.
'Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face,' he said.
'Our dedicated search and rescue teams are deployed on the ground. They are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this challenging time.'
The missing men were part of a 15-strong team with 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe.
Mr Paterson previously said it had always been his dream to 'conquer' the Everest summit
Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, went missing on May 13 after summiting Everest.
The pair, who had not relied on sherpa guides, were found dead a week later at two different locations.
Mr Paterson, who received the news along with the rest of his team as they trained at base camp, shared a post to his story with the caption 'very sad news'.
The British climber's last post to his Instagram followers was six days ago, when he reshared a friend's post saying he would 'be back down in 6 days ish'.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said this afternoon: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who is reported as missing in Nepal and are in touch with local authorities.'
Read more