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American doctor dies during attempt to climb Mount Everest

An American doctor has died during an attempt to climb Mt. Everest.

The man, identified as Jonathan Sugarman, 69, of Seattle, by The Guardian, passed away on May 1. He was part of a climb organized by Washington-state guiding service International Mountain Guides.

"It is with deep sorrow that IMG reports the death of one of our Everest 2023 team members at Camp 2. We can confirm that this event was not the result of a climbing accident or route condition that would be of potential impact or safety concern to any other teams on the mountain. The rest of the IMG climbing team is all doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances," read a statement on the IMG website.

Sugarman, 69, is the fourth person to die on Everest in 2023. The BBC described him as "a retired family medicine specialist and former University of Washington professor."

Camp 2 is one of the high-altitude camps on the South Col route to the summit of Mount Everest.

Climbers typically spend several days at Camp 2 to acclimatize to the high altitude and to rest and recover before proceeding to higher camps. The climb from Base Camp to Camp 2 is a challenging and strenuous one, as climbers have to negotiate steep and rocky terrain and cross the treacherous Khumbu Icefall.

According to an article in Uphill Athlete, Sugarman made a previous attempt on Everest in 2016, but had to turn back when he "came down with high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) at Camp 1 (~6,400 meters) on Cho Oyu and had to abort his climb."

He made another attempt in 2022.

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, with an elevation of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. Located in the Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet, it is an iconic and revered symbol of mountaineering and adventure. Climbing Mount Everest is an incredible feat of human endurance and skill, requiring months of preparation, training, and acclimatization to the high altitude and extreme conditions.

The climb to the summit is challenging and dangerous, with climbers facing a range of hazards including extreme weather, avalanches, crevasses, and altitude sickness. Despite the risks, thousands of climbers attempt to summit Mount Everest each year, drawn by the allure of conquering the world's highest peak and achieving a remarkable personal accomplishment.

Lead photo: IMG.

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