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Hillary died
Sir Edmund Hillary, that is, the guy who climbed Mount Everest.
| quote: | Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming New Zealand beekeeper became the first man to climb Everest, has died at the age of 88.
Sir Edmund, who conquered the world’s highest mountain in 1953 alongside Nepal's Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, had been suffering health problems since April after he suffered a fall whilst in Nepal.
The New Zealander regarded himself as an average beekeeper but was widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers. He was equally admired for his humility and unaffected manner.
After returning from the summit, which he scaled just days before the coronation of Elizabeth II, the matter-of-fact climber greeted a fellow expedition member with the now-infamous phrase: “Well, George, we’ve knocked the bastard off.”
The mountaineer who preferred to be called just “Ed” was humble to the point that he only admitted being the first man atop Everest long after the death of his climbing companion, Tenzing Norgay.
Announcing the death of the last night, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described his passing was a profound loss.
She said: "Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity." |
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.a...851-601,00.html
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RIP to someone who pushed boundaries, something we see a lot less of these days.
