Mount Everest record-holding climber blames Nepalese companies for shocking rise in deaths, calls for inquiry
- British climber Kenton Cool, who has made the most ascents of Everest of anyone born outside Nepal, says some operators are putting profits ahead of safety
- 13 people had died on the mountain by the end of spring this year, and a further four are missing – about 300 have died since exploration began in early 1900
2023 has been a particularly lethal year for climbers, with Mount Everest already having one of its deadliest years on record.
Thirteen people had reportedly died on the mountain by the end of the spring season, and there are a further four listed as missing – and one seasoned climber is pointing the blame at the rising number of Nepalese climbing companies, The Times reported.
British climber Kenton Cool, who holds the record for the most ascents of Everest by anyone born outside Nepal, said that some of these operators were putting profits ahead of safety protocols, taking people who weren’t prepared to attempt the climb up the mountain.
“When I arrived on the scene in 2004, most climbers had a deep climbing résumé,” he told The Times.
“Now there are droves of people who have not climbed a mountain before. This is one of the reasons why we are having multiple deaths. There’s a lack of experience, a lack of support,” he added.
Cool, 49, who has a record of 17 summits of Everest, noted the number of firms that appeared and disappeared in quick succession, saying that this highlighted a lack of accountability that you would be unlikely to find in the West.
He called for an inquiry into how to improve standards.
