• Australian man dies while attempting to climb Himlung Himal in Nepal at 7,100 meters
• Harsh weather and extreme altitude hindered rescue efforts; Australian embassy provides consular assistance to his family

An Australian man, Chin Tark Chan, has died while attempting to reach the summit of Himlung Himal in Nepal at an altitude of 7,100 meters, after falling ill about 300 meters from the top

Himlung Himal, part of the Himalayan mountain range, is located near the Tibetan border, approximately 150 kilometers northwest of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu

According to rescue officials, Chan began feeling unwell at an altitude of 6,800 meters, exhibiting symptoms consistent with snow blindness and loss of mobility

A local guide, known as a Sherpa, who assists climbers in Nepal, reported Chan’s condition to the rescue team via a messaging app

The team requested a helicopter rescue, but this was deemed impossible due to the extreme altitude, which exceeded the operational limits for aviation in Nepal

Two hours later, the Sherpa reported that Chan was nearing unconsciousness, and a subsequent helicopter rescue attempt four hours after the first report failed due to severe weather conditions

Chan was later transported to a lower camp, where he was found to have frostbite on his fingers and toes. He remained there for a full day as descent or helicopter evacuation was impossible due to snow.

The following day, Nepali authorities temporarily halted all helicopter flights after an unrelated crash. The Sherpa attempted to move Chan to a lower camp, but he died before reaching an altitude of approximately 6,500 meters

One of the expedition supervisors said Chan was part of a group of nine climbers accompanied by ten Sherpas. He had been advised to climb with two dedicated Sherpas for safety but chose to proceed with only one

The supervisor also noted that Chan had previously attempted to climb the mountain unsuccessfully and had visited Nepal multiple times for high-altitude climbs

The Australian embassy confirmed it is providing consular support to Chan’s family and expressed its deepest condolences

A fundraising campaign has been launched to honor Chan’s adventurous spirit and to support the Sherpas in Nepal, who play a critical role in assisting foreign climbers