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Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand-born adventurer who defied the failed efforts of countless climbers by reaching the peak of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, has died. He was 88. Hillary died of a heart attack in Auckland City Hospital at 9 a.m. local time today. His death ``is a profound loss for New Zealand,'' Prime Minister Helen Clark said in a statement.Sir Edmund became the first person to stand on Mt Everest, the world's highest peak, on June 2, 1953 - the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
His chance to make his mark in history came when selected for the 1953 British expedition to climb Mt Everest, led by former commando Colonel John Hunt, later Lord Hunt. On the mountain, the first assault team that tried to reach the 8848m summit was driven back by altitude sickness.
Hillary, who was renowned for his fitness and speed, was chosen along with Sherpa Tenzing to try next.
As he and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay descended from the May 29 attempt on the mountain, Hillary told fellow climbers: "We knocked the bastard off."
Clark said today that the passing of Hillary was a profound loss to New Zealand. "My thoughts are with Lady Hillary, Sir Edmund's children, wider family, and close friends at this sad time," Clark said in a statement.
His chance to make his mark in history came when selected for the 1953 British expedition to climb Mt Everest, led by former commando Colonel John Hunt, later Lord Hunt. On the mountain, the first assault team that tried to reach the 8848m summit was driven back by altitude sickness.
Hillary, who was renowned for his fitness and speed, was chosen along with Sherpa Tenzing to try next.
As he and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay descended from the May 29 attempt on the mountain, Hillary told fellow climbers: "We knocked the bastard off."
Clark said today that the passing of Hillary was a profound loss to New Zealand. "My thoughts are with Lady Hillary, Sir Edmund's children, wider family, and close friends at this sad time," Clark said in a statement.
"Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity."
Sir Edmund Hillary 'Grate Facts'
Acting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also paid tribute, describing Sir Edmund Hillary as a giant of New Zealand.
"Sir Edmund's name is synonymous with adventure, with achievement, with dreaming and then making those dreams come true," Ms Gillard told Sky News this morning.
"I'm sure there will be many Australians today who reflect on his death.
"People always looked at him as a man of achievement and I think people today will mark his passing with regret."
Ms Gillard said Sir Edmund had led a "long and well-lived life".
"For generations to come, people will study what Sir Edmund achieved by being, of course, the first to get to the top of the world and to successfully conquer Everest.
"Edmund Hillary was one of New Zealand's giants, of course, and known around the world and someone of whom they were so rightly proud." Sherpas mourn 'sceond father'
Nepal's Sherpas went into mourning today at the death of Sir Edmund Hillary and pledged to ensure his legacy lives on in the community he has helped since the first conquest of Everest in 1953.
"We consider him as a second father,'' said Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, the vice president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
"We are planning a memorial and thinking about a statue in the mountaineering park,'' said Sherpa, who attended one of the first schools set up by Hillary in the Solokhumbu region in Everest's foothills.
The New Zealander conquered the 8,848-metre mountain with the aid of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
He returned the following year to launch community projects in the impoverished region around the base of the world's tallest mountain where Sherpas live.
Hillary's trust built schools and hospitals, and trained health workers in the harsh, mountainous region. He also helped build an airstrip to promote tourism.
"His work changed the life of the whole Sherpa community. Without his work, especially the schools, the Sherpas would be nowhere. I am sure it (his work) will continue,'' Sherpa said.
Sherpa friends of Sir Edmund today lit butter lamps and offered special Buddhist prayers in monasteries for the mountaineer, calling him a great philanthropist and friend of Nepal.
In 2003, the government conferred honourary Nepali citizenship on Hillary in recognition of his services to the people and the Solukhumbhu region where Mount Everest is located.
Hillary's projects built 26 schools, two hospitals, an airport, numerous trails and provided scholarships for Sherpa children in the Himalayan nation, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.
"He has done so much for us. If he is incarnated he can again continue to do good work for the human beings,'' said Ang Rita, a devout Buddhist and the first graduate of the first school opened by Hillary in the Everest region in 1960s.
"Many Sherpa people have offered private prayers while many others are holding special services in monasteries,'' he said, adding that Hillary's friends and Sherpas would organise a special service for him in Kathmandu.
The 1953 feat of Hillary and Tenzing Norgay brought scenic Nepal into the limelight as a hotspot for adventure tourism in the world.
Tenzing Norgay died in 1986 in Darjeeling, India, at the age of 72.
Sir Edmund Hillary 'Grate Facts'
Acting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also paid tribute, describing Sir Edmund Hillary as a giant of New Zealand.
"Sir Edmund's name is synonymous with adventure, with achievement, with dreaming and then making those dreams come true," Ms Gillard told Sky News this morning.
"I'm sure there will be many Australians today who reflect on his death.
"People always looked at him as a man of achievement and I think people today will mark his passing with regret."
Ms Gillard said Sir Edmund had led a "long and well-lived life".
"For generations to come, people will study what Sir Edmund achieved by being, of course, the first to get to the top of the world and to successfully conquer Everest.
"Edmund Hillary was one of New Zealand's giants, of course, and known around the world and someone of whom they were so rightly proud." Sherpas mourn 'sceond father'
Nepal's Sherpas went into mourning today at the death of Sir Edmund Hillary and pledged to ensure his legacy lives on in the community he has helped since the first conquest of Everest in 1953.
"We consider him as a second father,'' said Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, the vice president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
"We are planning a memorial and thinking about a statue in the mountaineering park,'' said Sherpa, who attended one of the first schools set up by Hillary in the Solokhumbu region in Everest's foothills.
The New Zealander conquered the 8,848-metre mountain with the aid of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
He returned the following year to launch community projects in the impoverished region around the base of the world's tallest mountain where Sherpas live.
Hillary's trust built schools and hospitals, and trained health workers in the harsh, mountainous region. He also helped build an airstrip to promote tourism.
"His work changed the life of the whole Sherpa community. Without his work, especially the schools, the Sherpas would be nowhere. I am sure it (his work) will continue,'' Sherpa said.
Sherpa friends of Sir Edmund today lit butter lamps and offered special Buddhist prayers in monasteries for the mountaineer, calling him a great philanthropist and friend of Nepal.
In 2003, the government conferred honourary Nepali citizenship on Hillary in recognition of his services to the people and the Solukhumbhu region where Mount Everest is located.
Hillary's projects built 26 schools, two hospitals, an airport, numerous trails and provided scholarships for Sherpa children in the Himalayan nation, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.
"He has done so much for us. If he is incarnated he can again continue to do good work for the human beings,'' said Ang Rita, a devout Buddhist and the first graduate of the first school opened by Hillary in the Everest region in 1960s.
"Many Sherpa people have offered private prayers while many others are holding special services in monasteries,'' he said, adding that Hillary's friends and Sherpas would organise a special service for him in Kathmandu.
The 1953 feat of Hillary and Tenzing Norgay brought scenic Nepal into the limelight as a hotspot for adventure tourism in the world.
Tenzing Norgay died in 1986 in Darjeeling, India, at the age of 72.
