This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65309962
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Noel Hanna: Mountaineer dies in Nepal expedition | Noel Hanna: Mountaineer dies in Nepal expedition |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Noel Hanna died at a camp after making his descent from the world's 10th highest mountain | |
| Noel Hanna, a prominent mountaineer from Dromara in County Down, has died in Nepal. | Noel Hanna, a prominent mountaineer from Dromara in County Down, has died in Nepal. |
| It is understood that Mr Hanna died while on an expedition to Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world. | It is understood that Mr Hanna died while on an expedition to Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world. |
| Tributes have been paid to the 56-year-old climber who scaled Mount Everest 10 times in his career. | |
| In 2018, he became the first person from the island of Ireland to successfully summit and descend K2. | In 2018, he became the first person from the island of Ireland to successfully summit and descend K2. |
| Mr Hanna had scaled the 8,091m (26,545ft) Annapurna peak on Monday and died overnight at a camp after making his descent, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports. | Mr Hanna had scaled the 8,091m (26,545ft) Annapurna peak on Monday and died overnight at a camp after making his descent, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports. |
| BBC Nepali said there were local reports that his body has been airlifted to the capital, Kathmandu. | |
| A second climber from India is also reportedly missing after falling into a crevasse. | A second climber from India is also reportedly missing after falling into a crevasse. |
| Annapurna in the Himalayas is the 10th highest mountain in the world | Annapurna in the Himalayas is the 10th highest mountain in the world |
| Robbie Marsh, a guide in the Mourne Mountains, described Mr Hanna as an inspirational figure within the climbing community. | |
| He told BBC News NI: "I was always at him to write a book, but he was such a humble man. | |
| "He just normalised climbing 8,000 metre mountains, just like we would do Slieve Donard." | |
| Mr Marsh said he was inspired by Mr Hanna to quit his corporate management job to set up his mountaineering business. | |
| "Part of his legacy is that inspiration that he has given people," he said. | |
| Robbie Marsh was inspired to set up a mountaineering business by Noel Hanna | |
| Banjo Bannon, a climber from Newry, who was the second person from Northern Ireland to reach Mt Everest in 2003, said: "Noel had it in his head that he was going to do all 14 peaks over 8,000m. That was his goal and dream." | |
| Alison Irwin, a representative from the Nepal Ireland Society, said Mr Hanna did a lot of work in promoting connections between the two countries. | |
| "He had a huge love of Nepal, through his mountains, and was very, very interested in all things Nepal," she said. | |
| Ms Irwin described feeling delighted for Mr Hanna when she heard he had reached the peak of Annapurna this week. | |
| She added: "The first thought that came into my head when I saw the summit news was, 'well, I hope he gets down safe'. And I woke up this morning to that bad news." | |
| Mourne Mountain Adventures, a guided hiking company based in Kilkeel, has paid tribute to Mr Hanna. | Mourne Mountain Adventures, a guided hiking company based in Kilkeel, has paid tribute to Mr Hanna. |
| In a social media post, the company said: "There is some peace in that he spent his last moments doing what he loved best, such a great man and one of N Ireland's finest mountaineers." | In a social media post, the company said: "There is some peace in that he spent his last moments doing what he loved best, such a great man and one of N Ireland's finest mountaineers." |
| Dan McFarland, the head coach at Ulster Rugby, tweeted: "Very sad to hear of Noel's passing. Noel was a great inspiration to this team. | Dan McFarland, the head coach at Ulster Rugby, tweeted: "Very sad to hear of Noel's passing. Noel was a great inspiration to this team. |
| "All our thoughts are with Lynne and Noel's family." | "All our thoughts are with Lynne and Noel's family." |
| Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance, but would not comment further. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Mountaineering | Mountaineering |
| Dromara | Dromara |
| Mount Everest | Mount Everest |
| Nepal | Nepal |