The family of Kenyan mountaineer Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui has decided to leave his body on Mount Everest instead of attempting a dangerous and costly retrieval process.
This decision came after careful consideration and consultations, weighing the significant risks involved in bringing his body down from the mountain, according to fellow Kenyan mountaineer James Muhia.
The family chose not to risk anyone’s life to retrieve his body from the crevasse he fell into, located about 48 meters from the world’s highest point.
They find solace in knowing that Kirui will remain in a place he cherished, surrounded by the mountains he loved.
The family plans to hold a memorial service in Nairobi and Chepterit village, with details to be announced soon.
Forty-year-old Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui and his Nepali guide Nawang Sherpa, 44, disappeared on Wednesday during Kirui’s attempt to become the first African to climb Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Everest Today, an organization documenting mountaineering events in the Himalayas, announced that Kirui will be honored by naming the spot where he died after him.
This recognition celebrates his near-success as the first African to almost summit Mt. Everest without using supplementary oxygen.
