Lakpa Thindu Sherpa, described by friends as an ‘unassuming giant of a man’ and ‘a legend’ – photo courtesy Jon Gupta
Lakpa Thindu Sherpa from Dingboche has been killed in an avalanche on Ama Dablam triggered by a 5.6 magnitude earthquake at about 5.20am Nepal time. A British climber, Ciaran Hill, was also injured but has been airlifted to safety,
Trek & Mountain contributor Jon Gupta, part of the team climbing on Ama Dablam, was first on the scene and this is how he described the situation:
“The earthquake caused a part of the Dablam (hanging ice) to fall down from high on the face which hit them and took them both down the mountain a little way. Myself and Lakpa Onjo Sherpa were the only people on the mountain and were there within an hour. We did everything we could before the rescue helicopter arrived but sadly the result was inevitable – Thundu Sherpa had received severe injuries and died by our side shortly after we arrived. The other member is battered & bruised but is now in hospital and will be okay.”
Our thoughts are with the family of Lakpa Thindu Sherpa, a man described by friends and colleagues as a ‘legend’.