Sir Edmund Hillary: 1919-2008

Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay photographed after reaching the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, in 1953 Photograph: AP

A sweeping panorama of Mt Everest at last light in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park Photograph: Dan Rafla/Getty

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay stands atop the summit of Mt Everest, the first person to reach the highest point on Earth Photograph: Edmund Hillary/AP

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary drink a celebratory cup of tea at Camp IV in the Western Cwm ('Valley of Silence') after their successful climb Photograph: George Band/AP

Hillary with Norgay Tenzing, known as Sherpa Tensing, enjoying a snack on their return from the summit Photograph: Getty

Down from the summit of the world's highest mountain, Hillary settles down to read some long-awaited mail from home Photograph: Corbis

Mt Everest conquerors Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay at London's Heathrow airport upon their arrival back from the expedition Photograph: AFP

Edmund Hillary (left) and fellow New Zealander George Lowe, also a member of the successful British expedition, leave the Chelsea home of LP Kirian, head of the Royal Geographical Society Photograph: PA

Sir Edmund Hillary visiting Banepa, Nepal, on March 12 1963 Photograph: AP

Sir Edmund Hillary arrives Durbar Square in Kathmandu to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his historic expedition Photograph: David Longstreath/AP

Sir Edmund Hillary at his home in Auckland, New Zealand on April 4 2003 Photograph: Michael Bradley/Getty

Nepalese mountaineer and son of Tenzing Norgay, Jamling Sherpa, pays tribute in Kathmandu in front of a portrait of Hillary Photograph: Narendra Shrestha/EPA