Who could do such a thing? To walk past a fellow climber near the top of the biggest mountain in the world, how shallow and callous would you have to be? And how little regard for human life?
Luckily at least some people aren't like that:
"A stricken climber left to die on Everest was saved by an American guide and a sherpa who found her by accident as they returned from the summit. The dramatic rescue of the Nepalese woman has reopened a passionate debate about mountaineering ethics, a year after the controversial death on the mountain of the British climber David Sharp. The woman, identified only as Usha, was found on Monday morning suffering from severe altitude sickness about 550 metres beneath the 8,848m (29,028ft) summit." (The Times)I find it hugely offensive that someone, anyone, would just leave another human being to die like that. There is always something that can be done. At the very least, you should try.
Despite the number of people who climb Everest is continually climbing, with more and more people vying to be the first from their minority group to reach the summit, and even the first mobile phone call made from the summit of Everest. But it is still dangerous to climb the mountain - and always will be.
It was first climbed "because it was there" - pretty much the reason for all climbing activities - but it now seems to be climbed simply so that people can brag that they've done it. And they appear to put a greater emphasis on gaining their bragging rights than on saving a human life. If you get so far only to not quite reach the summit, it would be a disappointment, I'm sure, but a life, any life, is worth more than that. And no real mountaineer would think anything else.
Source: The Times
