The search for an Irish father of one who fell while descending the world’s highest mountain has been called off.
Seamus Lawless from Bray, Co Wicklow, was fulfilling a life-long dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest, which stands at 8,848 metres, before he reached his 40th birthday in July this year.
The assistant professor in artificial intelligence at Trinity’s School of Computer Science and Statistics, had successfully reached the summit on Thursday along with several others in his group of eight led by world-renowned Co Down adventurer Noel Hanna - just hours before his fall.
The decision was taken by rescuers and those on the mountain to stop the search for Mr Lawless, due to high winds of 55km and frigid temperatures of -27C with a wind chill, making it feel more like -43C.
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Mr Lawless, who's wife Pam is five-months pregnant, reportedly fell from an altitude of 8,300m in an area known as the balcony.
The group suffered another tragedy on Friday morning when an Indian climber, Ravi Thakar, was found dead in his tent at Camp Four at 7,900m.
Ireland’s Pat Falvey, whom has scaled Everest twice said: “Other group climbers found him dead inside his tent when he failed to appear. The whole climbing community is devastated with this additional news.
“Mr Lawless’s wife, young daughter and other family members are distraught but the community will rally around them as best as they can.
“The search has had too be called off for safety reasons because of the high winds and frigid temperatures. As time passes the more difficult it will be for everyone in the group and for rescuers to locate Mr Lawless.
“This will be devastating for the group left on the mountain. Mr Hanna, who is group lead, is such a careful, dedicated and professional climber and for this to happen will be tough on him and indeed absolutely everyone.”
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Mr Lawless had attempted the mammoth climb to raise up to €25,000 for Barretstown, a charity dedicated to seriously ill children and their families.
Mr Lawless flew to Nepal in April, to prepare for the climb and to allow his body to acclimatise to the thinner air, in a bid to avoid altitude sickness which can be life threatening.
The guide company, Seven Summit Treks, involved in the climb confirmed they had involved a team of Sherpas to search for Mr Lawless.
Another Irish climber Jennifer Shirley and Saray N’ksui Khumalo of South Africa, the first black African woman to reach the summit are part of the group.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is liaising closely with Mr Lawless's family.
Meanwhile, the Himalayan Times is reporting that a third man, Narayan Singh, a member of the maiden Indian Army expedition to Mt Makalu died due to altitude sickness at 8,200 metres on Thursday night.
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