No, he didn't quite reach the summit, but to me, Andrew Brash did something much more heroic by putting aside a lifetime ambition to help save the life of Australian climber Lincoln Hall. In contrast, in a display of callous selfishness just a week earlier, a British climber was left to die on Everest by passers-by.

Nice post Marc.

Mr.Brash taught the world a lesson.

This story has several interesting elements. One of the men to walk past the dying Mr. Sharp was a New Zealander climber, Mark Englis. Several years ago, Mark Englis would have died on Mt. Cook but rescuers came for him in difficult conditions, refusing to consider him dead. He lost the lower part of both legs to frostbite but continued to climb and a local hero for us. Then Mark's climbing team, along with others that day past and left Mr. Sharp to die. Sir Edmund Hillary was scathing and there was local controversy on the subject that tarnished Mr. Englis climb. Congratulations to Mr. Brash who came to the aid of an Aussie, just 200 metres from the summit. (By the way, our news reported Mr. Brash as an American, but you Canadians and Americans all look alike to us.)

Thanks, J1780. Brash and others in his team have indeed taught a valuable lesson in putting compassion before glory.

And Tom, just to elaborate on what your fellow New Zealander said (or is he Australian? you guys from Down Under all look alike to us ) Anyway, for the benefit of other readers of this thread, Sir Edmund Hillary (now 87 years old) is quoted in Wikipedia:

Hillary has recently spoken of his disdain for the attitudes displayed by many modern mountaineers. In particular he publically criticised New Zealander Mark Inglis and 40 other climbers who, in various groups, left British climber David Sharp to die in May 2006. He said "I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top, it was wrong if there was a man suffering altitude problems and was huddled under a rock, just to lift your hat, say good morning and pass on by." He also told the New Zealand Herald that he was horrified by the callous attitude of today’s climbers. "They don’t give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn’t impress me at all that they leave someone lying under a rock to die.".



[ June 05, 2006, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Marc ]

An update to this story. Two years later, Andrew has fulfilled his dream.

Having lived in Calgary and heard this story the first time 'round, It's nice to know that he's finally made it.

Seems like a good guy. I'd like to meet him.