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Man Dies Trying To Descend Everest Because The Mountain Was Too Crowded

Man Dies Trying To Descend Everest Because The Mountain Was Too Crowded

Donald Cash was dragged down to Hillary Step which is where they got stuck in a 'traffic jam' for two and a half hours

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

A climber has died trying to get down from the the summit of Mount Everest - because the queue was so big, rescuers couldn't find a path to more help.

Donald Lynn Cash was 'blessed' to have reached the peak before he tragically passed away, hours after taking photographs at the summit - before being caught in congestion to pass the Hillary Step.

Some of the huge queues towards the summit of Everest.
Getty

A friend of Mr Cash claimed he had been told by a lead guide that 'Donald Lynn Cash was involved in the huge traffic jam approximately 2.30 hrs. Due to huge traffic jam he had to wait some more hours and at the same time he again fainted'.

According to Pioneer Adventure, the company leading the expedition, Cash, 55, passed away on 22 May after initially collapsing at the top of Mount Everest.

This was his last attempt on the Seven Summit climbing mission, where mountaineers take on the highest peaks of the seven continents.

Donald Cash was on his final climb of the Seven Summit climbing mission.
Facebook/Don Cash

Pioneer Adventure released a statement saying: "He suddenly fainted due to High Altitude Sickness at the summit when he was taking some photographs and our supporting Sherpa Guides (Mr. Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa and Mr. Pasang Tenje Sherpa) helped him to bring to normalcy.

"Our supporting Sherpa Guides did immediate massage, CPR and raised his Oxygen Pressure to keep him alive. After that, he was able to communicate a bit but he could not stand and walk properly.

"In that situation, our Sherpa Guides tried to rescue and drag him down towards Camp 4 as quick as they could.

Mr Cash collapsed at the summit of Everest.
Facebook/Don Cash

"While dragging him down close to Hillary Step (approximately 8,770 meters) he again fainted and his accompanying Sherpa Guides tried to wake him up but he breathed his last."

The Hillary Step is one of the many challenges that face climbers attempting Everest. It is a nearly vertical rock face and faces queues in busy periods.

The statement continued: "Our Team did their best to save his life. Despite their best efforts in providing the best guidance, sufficient oxygen supplies and medical support they could not save his life.

"They waited there for more than two hours keeping their own life at risk. They hoped that he might survive and they could bring him down. But he was already dead."

One of Mr Cash's Facebook posts.
Facebook/Don Cash

Speaking to KSLTV, Mr Cash's son Tanner Cash said: "The last message he sent to me, he said 'I feel so blessed to be on the mountain that I read about for the last 40 years".

Brandalin Cash, Donald's daughter, added: "He taught us that nothing was impossible. You can do literally anything. If you can dream it, you can do it."

She continued: "One of the last messages my mom got was thank you for supporting me in my dreams. He wanted to do this. He wanted to be on that mountain. He wanted to show that he could accomplish dreams and that others can too."

RIP, Donald Cash.

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Don Cash

Topics: News, US News