BURSTAn accomplished American climber has died while attempting to climb Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, according to expedition organisers.
Iswari Paudel of Himalayan Guides confirmed to the Himalayan Times that Alex Pancoe of Illinois died from cardiac arrest at camp two. “Alex felt uncomfortable while he returned from the camp three of the 8,485-metre mountain completing his acclimatisation rotation,” Paudel said.
Pancoe was the founder of Peaks of Mind, and he had completed the “explorers grand slam” – the north pole, the south pole and all seven summits. He was also a brain tumour survivor. When he climbed Everest in 2019, he dedicated his climb to Serena Lewis, who was also battling cancer. Pancoe also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
The US Embassy in Kathmandu and his family have been informed about the incident. Efforts were underway to airlift his body off Makalu. Our condolences to his family and friends.
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