Two climbers—Subrata Ghosh from India and Philipp Santiago from the Philippines—have died while attempting to summit Mount Everest, expedition organizers confirmed on Friday.
Subrata Ghosh died on Thursday during his descent from Everest’s 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit. A day earlier, 45-year-old Philipp Santiago died at Camp 4, the final staging area before the summit, while preparing for his climb.
Bodies Remain on the Mountain
According to Bodha Raj Bhandari of Snowy Horizon Trek and Expedition, the Nepal-based company managing the expedition, the climbers’ bodies have not yet been retrieved.
Efforts to recover bodies from Everest are notoriously dangerous and costly, often requiring large teams to navigate extreme altitudes and treacherous icy terrain.
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Climbing Season Nears Its End
The deaths occurred during Everest’s narrow spring climbing window, which begins in March and ends in late May. Most successful ascents take place in May, when brief periods of favorable weather provide opportunities for climbers to reach the summit.
Climbers face a race against time during this season, balancing physical endurance with unpredictable mountain weather.
Everest’s Deadly Legacy
Mount Everest was first summited in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa. Since then, over 300 people have died attempting the climb, cementing Everest’s reputation as one of the most dangerous peaks on Earth.
Despite the risks, hundreds of climbers from around the world continue to pursue the challenge each year, often supported by experienced local Sherpas and professional expedition teams.
