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Everest hero Hillary laid to rest Everest hero Hillary laid to rest
(10 minutes later)
New Zealand is bidding a final farewell to Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber to stand atop Mount Everest, at his state funeral in Auckland.New Zealand is bidding a final farewell to Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber to stand atop Mount Everest, at his state funeral in Auckland.
Dignitaries from around the world are attending the service in St Mary's Church, which is being televised via satellite links around the world.Dignitaries from around the world are attending the service in St Mary's Church, which is being televised via satellite links around the world.
New Zealand PM Helen Clark and Norbu Tenzing Norgay, the son of his climbing partner, are due to address mourners.New Zealand PM Helen Clark and Norbu Tenzing Norgay, the son of his climbing partner, are due to address mourners.
Sir Edmund, 88, died of a heart attack in Auckland on 11 January.Sir Edmund, 88, died of a heart attack in Auckland on 11 January.
Crowds of people gathered under cloudy skies outside the church hours ahead of the ceremony. Crowds of people gathered under cloudy skies outside the church hours ahead of the two-hour ceremony.
The mountaineer's widow, Lady June Hillary, and son, Peter, will lead mourning at Tuesday's church service. National hero
They were among hundreds who filed past his casket next door at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he lay in state on Monday. The prime minister accompanied the mountaineer's widow, Lady June Hillary, and son, Peter, into Tuesday's church service.
Satellite link The BBC's Greg Ward in Auckland says tens of thousands of New Zealanders will pay their last respects to the legendary adventurer.
Dignitaries from Nepal, the US, Australia, Russia and India are also due to attend the funeral. Dignitaries from Nepal, the US, Australia, Russia and India are among about 500 invited guests who have gathered to bid farewell to the mountaineer hailed as New Zealand's greatest national hero.
Governor-General Anand Satyanand is representing the UK's Queen Elizabeth II - who is also New Zealand's head of state.Governor-General Anand Satyanand is representing the UK's Queen Elizabeth II - who is also New Zealand's head of state.
The service is being broadcast live across New Zealand and shown on a giant screen in an Auckland park. On Monday hundreds of people filed past his casket next door at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he lay in state.
Around the country, thousands are watching the event on large outdoor screens set up in several main centres.
A special television satellite link has also been set up to Nepal and Antarctica.A special television satellite link has also been set up to Nepal and Antarctica.
After the funeral, Sir Edmund will be commemorated with a Maori Haka dance.
The cortege will travel through Auckland city streets before Sir Edmund is cremated at a private service.
After conquering Everest, Sir Edmund led several expeditions to the South Pole and devoted time to helping ethnic Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region through his Himalayan Trust.After conquering Everest, Sir Edmund led several expeditions to the South Pole and devoted time to helping ethnic Sherpas of Nepal's Khumbu region through his Himalayan Trust.
Tributes have flooded in from around the world since his death.
The former beekeeper became famous after he and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to scale the world's highest peak on 29 May 1953.The former beekeeper became famous after he and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to scale the world's highest peak on 29 May 1953.