Joseph Ogidi, popularly known as Gidi, the renowned host of the Gidi na Ghost morning show on Radio Jambo, recently shared his experiences with mountain climbing.
The former singer recounted his story in light of the recent tragedy involving Kenyan mountaineer Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, who lost his life while attempting to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Gidi revealed that he has climbed both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro but emphasized the inherent challenges of mountain climbing.
“Climbing mountains is not easy; you have to be physically and mentally prepared. However, accidents do happen. In Cheruiyot’s case, unfortunately, he fell into a crevasse. I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak twice, and Mount Kenya to Lenana Peak once,” Gidi said.
He recounted his most harrowing experience during his climbing expeditions, describing a terrifying incident during his second ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro many years ago.
“My worst experience was during my second climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. I was exhausted just a few meters from the summit and decided to rest. I lost contact with my group, which was far ahead. One of the guides realized I was falling asleep and pulled me down, warning that if I slept there, it would be the end for me. Many climbers have died near that spot. I pushed myself to keep walking and eventually reached the summit. That’s when I learned about altitude sickness, where you feel dizzy, sleepy, and tired, and the only remedy is to descend as quickly as possible,” he narrated.
The seasoned presenter said he felt great after returning to camp. However, following that incident, he vowed never to attempt mountain climbing again.
“Nonetheless, it is a rewarding experience that you can try in your lifetime. RIP Cheruiyot Kirui,” he said.
On Wednesday, Cheruiyot Kirui’s family announced that the body of the Kenyan climber would remain on Mount Everest and would not be retrieved due to the dangerous nature of such an operation.
