U.S. Daredevil apos;s Everest Leap Cancelled As Avalanche Victims Cremated
Everest avalanche victims are cremated in moving Buddhist ceremony as U.S.
wingsuit jumper whose Sherpas were killed cancels his leap from mountain due to growing outrage
Avalanche on Mount Everest killed at least 13 local guides on Friday
Five of the guides were assisting Joby Ogwyn's climb up the mountainHe planned to film his wingsuit jump from the top for Discovery ChannelBut Mr Ogwyn's plan to continue with the stunt sparked global outrage
Discovery Network, which sponsored the stunt, said it has been cancelledAvalanche victims were cremated on Monday in a Buddhist ceremony
By [/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Suzannah+Hills Suzannah Hills]
Published: 09:25 GMT, 21 April 2014 | Updated: 14:43 GMT, 21 April 2014
[ ] [ ] [ ] </a> [/news/article-2609324/U-S-wingsuit-jumpers-Everest-leap-cancelled-growing-outrage-plans-ahead-despite-death-team-Sherpas-avalanche.html#comments 11
View
comments] A daredevil's planned jump off the summit of Mount Everest has been cancelled following outrage at his plans to go ahead with the stunt after his team of Sherpas were killed in an avalanche on the mountain.
Joby Ogwyn planned to film his attempt to become the first person to jump from the top of Mount Everest and fly down to Base Camp in a wingsuit for the Discovery Channel who were sponsoring him.
But five Sherpas employed to assist Mr Ogwyn's climb up the mountain were killed in an avalanche on the mountain on Friday.
At least 13 people lost their lives and many more were injured in the deadliest accident to have ever happened on Mount Everest.
Scroll down for video
Called off: Joby Ogwyn's wingsuit jump from the top of Mount Everest has been cancelled after five Sherpas assisting his climb up the mountain were killed in avalanche
Ceremony: A Nepalese Buddhist monk prepares to cremate the body of one of the victims of the Mount Everest avalanche on Monday
The ceremony took place at the Syambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal, after the avalanche on Friday
At least thirteen men were killed in single deadliest accident in the history of the world's highest mountain. They were laid to rest on Monday in a traditional Buddhist ceremony, pictured
Despite the tragedy, Mr Ogwyn said he planned to go ahead with the stunt - sparking outrage around the globe.
RELATED ARTICLES [# Previous] [# 1] [# Next] [/news/article-2608992/Hes-perfect-example-selfless-Sherpa-people-American-climber-praises-heroic-efforts-guide-Everest-tragedy-claimed-13-lives.html 'He's a perfect example of the selfless Sherpa people':...] [/news/article-2607858/Up-five-13-sherpas-killed-Mount-Everest-avalanche-employed-NBC-Discovery-Channel-expedition-ahead-networks-summit-televised-live-jump.html EXCLUSIVE: NBC tragedy as FIVE of the 13 sherpas killed by...]
Share this article
Share
In response, the Discovery Channel yesterday announced the jump, which was scheduled to be televised live on May 11 worldwide, has been cancelled.
The announcement came as the victims of the avalanche were cremated on Monday in a traditional Buddhist ceremony.
Discovery Network spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said that the network's thoughts and prayers go out to the Sherpa community of guides who were the victims of the avalanche.
Mr Ogwyn had wanted to go ahead with the jump to 'honour' the men who had lost their lives while helping take equipment for the stunt up the mountain.
Writing on Facebook from Everest Base Camp, he said: 'Today is a brighter day.
We are staying on the mountain to honour our friends and complete our project...[It] has become much bigger now.'
Smoke rises during the cremation ceremony of the Nepali Sherpa climbers who lost their lives during an avalanche at Mount Everest
Final farewells: Relatives gather to observe the cremation ceremony of the Nepali Sherpa climbers
Smoke rises from the cremation as a relative and a Buddhist monk work near the portrait of Ankaji Sherpa who was killed in the avalanche
Emotional: Daughter of Ang Kaji Sherpa, one of the victims of the Mount Everest avalanche on 18 April, collapses during the cremation ceremony at Syambhu
A Nepalese woman holds her hands together in prayer during the cremation ceremony on Monday
He said he will also set up a charity to help the families of those killed on the 8,848 metre mountain.
But his comments sparked outrage from critics who claimed he was just placing more lives at risk by proceeding.
According to The Times, one critic Anina Young commented on his post: 'You are actually going to put the safety of those around you [at risk] by still jumping?
What, are you crazy? Don't be a selfish ****hole. The worst disaster on Mount Everest and you think what you are doing is honouring the Sherpas?'
At least 13 people were killed and a further three are missing after the avalanche swept the Khumbu Icefall, one of the most dangerous parts of the climb to Everest.
Nepalese officials have called off the search for the missing men - saying there is no chance of finding them alive and their rescuers are being pout at risk.
At least three others are under intensive care for broken limbs, ribs, blood clots and other injuries in Kathmandu hospitals.
[ ] Buddhist monks attend prayers for Nepalese mountaineers as their fellow guides threatened to boycott expeditions on Monday
Prayers were also said for the three Sherpas who were never found after the avalanche
Deadly force: tour Lệ Giang The avalanche that killed at least thirteen Sherpas is pictured as it barrels down Mount Everest
Tragedy: The bodies of 13 Sherpa guides were found on the mountain. At least three others are missing
The men were trying to fix ropes and crack snow and ice to carve out a route for foreign climbers when they were caught in the avalanche at an altitude of about 5,800m, just below Camp One, at about 6.30am on Friday.
In the wake of the avalanche, the Sherpas have expressed anger that there has not been a bigger response from Nepal's government, which profits from the permit fees charged for the climbing expeditions.
It has resulted in several Sherpas quitting while others are debating whether to boycott the expeditions.
Final resting place: Family members carry the body of Ang Kaji Sherpa, who died in the Mount Everest avalanche, at Sherpa Monastry in Kathmandu
Loss: The daughter of Mount Everest avalanche victim Ang Kazi Sherpa cries as she is consoled by a relative as his body is brought to the Sherpa Monastery
Meanwhile some guides have asked for the mountain to be closed to expeditions during the popular climbing season that runs through May this year as a mark of respect for the dead.
Guiding foreign climbers is the main livelihood for Sherpas, helping them make up to $5,000 a year in a country with an average annual income of just over $700.
But the accident has re-ignited debate on the risks Sherpas take and on overcrowding on Everest, where the number of fatal accidents has risen in the past decades as more and more commercial expeditions are launched.
The government has issued 334 permits this season, up from 328 last year.
Rescue mission: Nepalese mountain rescue workers pictured lifting an injured climber shortly after the avalanche on Mount Everest at around 6.30am on Friday
Survivor: Dawa Tashi Sherpa, pictured, is one of several guides who were rescued from the mountain
Waiting to help: Staff at Grandy Hospital in Katmandu pictured waiting on the helipad for survivors of the avalanche on Friday
JUST TRYING TO HELP OTHERS: THE SHERPAS WHO DIED WHEN THEY WENT UP EARLY TO FIX LOOSE ROPES
When the Nepalese government released this list, only 12 were dead and four were missing.
The latest reports have the number of fatalities up to 13 but they have not disclosed who is the new fatality.
Name of expedition
NBC Everest Expedition
Adventurist Everest Expedition
AAI Everest Expeditions
AC Everest Expeditions
Jagged Globe Everest Exped.
Himalayan Ecstasy Lhotse
Everest Chinese Dream
Name of Trekking Company
tour shangrila Nepal Pvt.
Ltd.
Himalayan Guides Nepal Treks
tour shangrila Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
Himalayan Guides Nepal Treks
Summit Nepal Trekking
Himalayan Ecstasy Treks
Seven Summit Treks Pvt.
Ltd.
Names of sherpas
Mingma Nuru Sherpa- dead
Derji Sherpa- dead
Dorjee Khatri- dead
Then Dorjee Sherpa- dead
Phur Temba Sherpa- dead
Ang Tshiri Sherpa- dead
Nima Sherpa- dead
Tenzng Chottar- missing
Phurba Ongyal Sherpa- dead
Lakpa Tenjing Sherpa- dead
Chhring Ongchu Sherpa- dead
Pasang Karma Sherpa- dead
Asman Tamang- dead
Ankaji Sherpa- missing
Pem Tenji Sherpa- missing
AAsh Bahadur Gurung- missing
The avalanche happened at an altitude of about 5,800m - just below Camp One - on the 8,848-metre-tall Mount Everest at about 6.30am on Friday