A Kenyan climber, Cheruiyot Kirui, has been found dead near the summit of Mount Everest, according to officials in Nepal.
The 40-year-old banker’s body was discovered on Thursday, casting a shadow over the climbing season on the world’s highest peak.
Kirui’s ascent was closely followed by his fellow Kenyans, with climber James Muhia sharing frequent updates online.
“It is a sad day,” Muhia wrote in a tribute. “Our brother is now one with the mountain.”
Kenyan Foreign Ministry Secretary Korir Sing’oei also expressed his condolences, describing Kirui as “fearless and audacious.”
“He represents the indomitable will of many Kenyans,” Sing’oei wrote.
The cause of Kirui’s death remains unknown, but recovering bodies from Everest’s “death zone” above 8,000 meters is notoriously difficult due to the extreme conditions.
This tragedy marks the fourth reported death on Everest this season, with three climbers still missing.
The climbing window on Everest is rapidly closing as weather conditions deteriorate.
With over 450 climbers having successfully scaled the mountain from the south side in Nepal this season, safety concerns remain paramount.
