A HEART-wrenching last post on social media by a British climber now feared dead revealed why he wanted to climb the mountain.
Daniel Paterson, 40, and Sherpa Pas Tenji, 23, have not been heard from since they reached the summit on Tuesday.
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The pair were reportedly hit by an ice fall while climbing in Everest’s ‘death zone’.
Fears are now growing for the Leeds gym owner with his partner launching a gofundme to get specialist search and rescue.
Daniel shared much of his journey in the Himalayas on social media and revealed what it was like to climb the mountain.
He showed followers what it was like to live at Base Camp and prepare to tackle the summit.
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He said “Shit’s getting real now. Been itching to go like a coiled spring.”
In one of his final posts was an emotional description on why he had decided climb the dangerous mountain.
He said he believed in living outside your comfort zone to grow as a person and climbing Everest had been a goal for most of his life.
He said: “One thing I can guarantee is I won’t be quitting.
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“I don’t get scared much in life, but the thing that cares me most is not achieving this, but I’m trying not to think about it.
“All I care abut is getting to the top of that mountain. It’s a good journey despite reaching the summit or not, but for me that’s not an option [to fail].”
Daniel and his guide were part of a 15-member team with 8K Expeditions – and were being led by the expert climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe from Bolivia.
It is feared that after reaching the summit, heavy blows of wind caused ice from the top to collapse and fall over them.
Khim Lal Gautam, an official at the Everest base camp told the Telegraph: “A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side.”
The collapse is said to have happened at Hillary Step – a steep, nearly vertical rock that sits just beneath the summit.
The expedition team has sent six rescuers to find the missing men amid fears that no one could survive more than a day in the high-altitude area, also dubbed “Death Zone”.
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A fellow sherpa confirmed Daniel and his guide reached the top of the mountain, but added the two men had gone missing.
He said: “Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face.
“Our dedicated search and rescue teams are deployed on the ground. They are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this challenging time.”
His partner Becks Woodhead created a touching gofundme to try and raise money for the search and rescue operation – with a £150,000 goal.
One thing I can guarantee is I won’t be quitting
Danial Paterson
She wrote: “Dan is not just an adventurer; he is a beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud joint owner of Wakefield Crossfit.
“He is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to helping others. Now, it is our turn to help him.
“With his passion for Leeds United, we ask that in light of the upcoming play off final; please help us to find him.”
She wrote that a search and rescue operation on Everest is complex and costly and they would need to pay for helicopter flights, specialised teams, and logistical support.
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“Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to finding Dan.
“Your support will directly impact our ability to locate him and bring him back home to those who love him.”
What is Everest’s ‘death zone’?
Everest’s death zone is the area on the mountain above 26,000ft (8,000m) and where the pressure of oxygen is insufficient to keep someone alive.
There are 14 peaks above the 26,000ft height with each of them having a death zone.
All those peaks are found within the Himalaya and Karakoram mountain ranges.
More than 5,000 have scaled it since it was first climbed by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, while hundreds more try every year.
But 350 people have died trying to climb the peak with many dying in the death zone.
Deaths above that 26,000ft altitude mark happen as the lack of oxygen makes climbers lose bodily functions or indirectly make poor decisions.
Other deaths have been caused by avalanches, falls, serac collapse, exposure, or frostbite.
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Source: Sun
