Another death on Mt Everest, Australian lecturer dies near Camp IV

KATHMANDU: Mt Everest witnessed another casualty after an Australian woman climber died near the Camp IV on Nepal side on Saturday, officials confirmed.

Dr Maria Elizabeth Strydom lost her life after she suffered from snow blindness followed by stroke, according to Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, a liaison officer deputed by the Department of Tourism at the Everest base camp.

The Australian national was accompanied by her husband during the expedition.

A Finance lecturer at Monash Business School under Monash University, Dr Strydom (34) was heading to the world’s highest peak when she was taken ill, according to Mingma Sherpa, the owner of Seven Summit Treks, which locally managed their expedition.

Dr Strydom had already climbed Mt Denali in Alaska, Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt Ararat in eastern Turkey, and Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, among other peaks.

Earlier in the wee hours of Saturday, Eric Arnold, who hailed from Rotterdam of the Netherlands, died at the Camp IV after suffering from altitude-related sickness.