Canberra mountaineer Gilian Lee thinking about ‘next adventure’ after near-death experience on Everest

Canberra mountaineer Gilian Lee is “healing well and fast” and pondering his next big adventure after his controversial attempt to summit Everest without oxygen

Gilian Lee has lots of time to think about his next big adventure as he continues to recover from his near death experience on Everest.

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A CANBERRA mountaineer’s near death experience on Everest has not put him off trips to the snow.

Gilian Lee said he hopes to catch the tail end of the ski season and is already thinking about his next “adventure” as his health continues to improve.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Lee said he is “healing well and fast” after his attempt to climb the world’s highest mountain with a chest infection and without oxygen almost cost him his life in May.

The public servant believes his kidneys had shut down by the time he had reached Kahmandu Hospital after his sherpas carried out a dramatic rescue involving a makeshift sled and a yak in treacherous terrain.

Sherpas saved Mr Lee’s life in a dramatic rescue involving a makeshift sled and a yak. Picture: China Daily

Mr Lee collapsed at an altitude of 7600metres — known as the “death zone”— after he was having difficulty breathing and coughing profusely.

“Kidney function on arrival to Australia was 13 per cent, within one week it went to 26 per cent and the following week it was at 45 per cent,” Mr Lee wrote.

“At this rate, hoping to be at 90 to100 per cent by six weeks time if I didn’t damage it too much.

“I will be see a neurologist for the brain haematoma this week and a cardiologist just to be safe.”

It was Gilian Lee's fourth failed attempt to summit Everest. Picture: Facebook.

Mr Lee said frostbite on his toe was “annoying” him because it was stopping him from skiing.

“Hoping everything heals in two months max,” he said.

“Try to catch the tail end of ski season at Perisher/Falls Creek/Hotham. Otherwise it will be an overseas holiday to get my snow buzz.

“With all this spare time I have to think about my next adventure. Two weeks back and I am bored out of my brains.”

Mr Lee said he would be doing an expedition summary soon to “clarify all the mistruths out there”.

The challenging rescue of Mr Lee. Picture: China Daily

He told Sunday Night his Everest attempt is “unfinished business”.

“Life is not about saying, ‘Okay, I’ve hit a stumbling block, I’m just going to turn my arse around, tail between the legs and run home somewhere safe.’ No. It’s just readjusting, modify the risk, reassess the risk.

““Everybody dies, okay. It’s how you live.”

Mr Lee said he was a “stubborn bastard” and knows he owes his life to his sherpas.

“Sometimes you make the right call, sometimes you make the wrong call,” he said.

“In this instance, let’s be honest, I made the wrong call. If it wasn’t for those guys, I would have been frozen on a mountain right now.”

It was his fourth attempt to summit Everest.