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Mount Everest: Thirty climbers sick on Everest after three deaths Mount Everest: Altitude sickness claims third death in four days
(about 2 hours later)
About 30 climbers have suffered frostbite or become ill on Mount Everest after three others died, apparently from altitude sickness. An Indian climber has died on Mount Everest, becoming the third fatality in three days on the mountain.
Two Indian climbers have also been reported missing in the mountain's so-called "death zone" near the summit. Subhash Paul died on Sunday after reaching the summit a day before, as Sherpa guides were helping him descend.
A Dutch man and an Australian woman both died over the weekend as a result of altitude sickness.
Some 30 climbers have suffered frostbite or become seriously ill on Everest in recent days, as the spring climbing season comes to a close.
Two other Indian climbers who had been with Mr Paul have also been reported missing in the so-called "death zone" near the summit.
However the mountain's most successful female climber reached the summit for the seventh time on Friday.However the mountain's most successful female climber reached the summit for the seventh time on Friday.
Experts say it is not unusual for altitude sickness to claim some lives on Everest. What is altitude sickness?
But this is the first climbing season for two years, after an earthquake in Nepal killed at least 18 people on the mountain last year and 16 guides were killed in an avalanche in 2014, leading to protests that prematurely ended that season. Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, occurs when people have difficulty adapting to low oxygen levels at high altitude.
Most cases are mild and result in headaches, nausea or dizziness, but in rare cases there can be a potentially fatal build-up of fluid on the brain and lungs.
What are the chances of getting it?
It can affect anyone that goes above 8,000ft (2,500m). But Tibetans are said to possess a gene allowing them to cope with life at high altitude.
Around 30% of people experience a mild form of the condition and recover naturally, but between 1-3% develop the most severe form. It is not unusual for it to claim lives on Everest.
Is there any way to cure it?
Sufferers are advised to immediately go to a lower altitude and consume fluids and bottled oxygen. Drugs which reduce the severity of symptoms are available, but can have side-effects.
iWonder: The ups and downs of climbing Everest
This is the first climbing season for two years on Everest.
In 2014, 16 guides were killed in an avalanche, leading to protests that prematurely ended the season, then an earthquake in Nepal last year killed at least 18 people on the mountain and closed climbing routes.
With the mountain open again, climbers have been taking advantage of good conditions in large numbers, with nearly 400 reaching the summit from the Nepalese side since 11 May.With the mountain open again, climbers have been taking advantage of good conditions in large numbers, with nearly 400 reaching the summit from the Nepalese side since 11 May.
There have been successful ascents from the Chinese side too, including Lhakpa Sherpa, a Nepalese woman now living permanently in the US and working in a convenience store in Connecticut, who reached the peak from Tibet on Friday - breaking her own record for the most Everest climbs by a woman. There have been successful ascents from the Chinese side too, including Lhakpa Sherpa, a Nepalese woman living in the US, who reached the peak from Tibet on Friday, breaking her own record for the most Everest climbs by a woman.
But the weekend's dead and missing have highlighted the dangers of the world's highest mountain. 'Never a close call'
Indian Subhash Paul, who died on Monday, has become the latest casualty of the season. He died overnight as Sherpa guides were helping him down the mountain. Dutch climber Eric Ary Arnold died on Friday after reaching the summit, then on Saturday, 34-year-old Australian woman Maria Strydom, born in South Africa, died while descending.
Dutch climber Eric Ary Arnold died on Friday, after reaching the summit, while on Saturday, 34-year-old Australian woman Maria Strydom, who was born in South Africa, also died while descending from the peak. Ms Strydom, a vegan, had been attempting to climb Everest with her husband - who has survived - in an effort to prove that vegans could "do anything".
"There was never a close call before this time," said Aletta Newman, Maria Strydom's sister. "It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak," Ms Strydom is said to have told the Monash Business School, where she was a lecturer.
"They were always extremely well-prepared, they trained really, really hard before each event that they did. There was never any incident before this one." Her sister, Aletta Newman, told Reuters the couple were "always extremely well-prepared, they trained really, really hard before each event that they did. There was never any incident before this one."
Indian climbers Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh went missing on Saturday, Wangchu Sherpa from the Trekking Camp Nepal agency in Kathmandu told the Associated Press. Mr Paul's team mates, Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, have been missing since Saturday, Wangchu Sherpa from the Trekking Camp Nepal agency in Kathmandu told the Associated Press. He said they were unlikely to be able to survive.
Speaking to the BBC, Gyanendra Shrestha, a Nepalese official at Everest Base Camp, said snow blindness, altitude sickness and fatigue are very common health issues at high altitudes, although most people recover once they descend the mountain.
Most climbers are now beginning their climb down from the higher camps as spring climbing season slowly comes to an end, according to an official at the Department of Tourism.Most climbers are now beginning their climb down from the higher camps as spring climbing season slowly comes to an end, according to an official at the Department of Tourism.
iWonder: The ups and downs of climbing Everest Speaking to the BBC, Gyanendra Shrestha, a Nepalese official at Everest Base Camp, said snow blindness, altitude sickness and fatigue were very common health issues at high altitudes, although most people recover once they descend the mountain.