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1 year ago
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A renowned Northern Irish climber who summitted Everest 10 times has died on one of the world's most dangerous mountains.
Noel Hanna, 56, died on Monday on his way back from Annapurna's 8,091m summit, according to Kathmandu-based Seven Summit Treks.
The company's Thaneswar Guragai said his body had been carried down the mountain and taken to the capital.
It is not yet confirmed how he died, but his friend Pat Falvy told Ireland's RTE it is believed he died at base camp after descending from the summit.
"I got a text in from my people in Kathmandu... which said that Noel had passed away," said Mr Falvy.
Noel Hanna was also the first person from the island of Ireland to climb and descend the second highest mountain in the world, K2.
Only a few hundred people have ever made it up and down the notoriously deadly mountain alive.
His other achievements include climbing the highest mountain on all seven continents and - alongside three Sherpas - becoming the first humans to ascend the Burke Khang peak on the Nepal-Tibet border.
He lived in Dromore in Co Down, a small town about 12 miles southwest of Belfast, with his wife Lynne. The pair climbed Everest together in 2016.
Mourne Mountain Adventures paid tribute and said Mr Hanna was "such a great man and one of Northern Ireland's finest mountaineers".
DUP MLA for Antrim Paul Frew tweeted: "So sorry to hear of the death of Noel Hanna from Northern Ireland who had just become the 1st Irish climber to summit Annapurna.
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"Noel was an absolute legend climbing K2, Manaslu, and Everest 10 times! My thoughts & prayers are with his family at this sad time."
The mountain he died on, Annapurna, had a summit to death rate of 27.2% up to 2018, according to mountainiq.com - making it the world's most dangerous mountain over 8,000m.
Everest's rate was said to be just 3.29%.
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