Heart-wrenching post as Mt Everest climber feared dead after ice fall in ‘death zone’

A climber and gym owner who scaled Mt Everest is feared dead after going missing on the mountain in the notorious “death zone”.

A climber and his sherpa are both feared dead after making it to the top of Mt Everest

A British climber and gym owner who scaled Mt Everest is feared dead after going missing on the mountain.

Forty-year-old Daniel Paul Paterson and his 23-year-old sherpa Pas Tenji have not been seen or heard from since they reached the summit almost a week ago, authorities in Nepal have said.

According to reports, the pair were part of a team of 15 with adventure company, 8K Expeditions.

The Sun reports the group — including Mr Paterson — were being led by the expert climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe from Bolivia.

British climber Dan Paterson, 40, has been reported missing on Mount Everest.

Mr Paterson is feared dead after going missing on the mountain.

It is feared that after reaching the summit, heavy blows of wind caused ice from the top of the mountain to collapse and fall over them.

Khim Lal Gautam, an official at the Everest base camp told the Telegraph: “A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side.”

The collapse is said to have happened at Hillary Step – a steep, nearly vertical rock that sits just beneath the summit.

Dubbed the “Death Zone”, it is understood the expedition team has sent six rescuers to find the missing men amid fears that no one could survive more than a day in the high-altitude area.

Mr Paterson and his sherpa were allegedly hit with heavy blows of wind causing ice from the top of the mountain to collapse and fall over them.

Mr Paterson was doing the climb to raise funds for the family of a gym member who had died of cancer.

“Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face,” a fellow sherpa said.

“Our dedicated search and rescue teams are deployed on the ground. They are working tirelessly to locate our missing climbers. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this challenging time.”

In response, Mr Paterson’s distraught partner Rebecca Woodhead has started a GoFundMe page to fund further search and rescue missions for the “beloved son, brother, partner and friend”.

On May 21st, at 4:40 AM, Daniel Paterson successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest — a monumental achievement and a testament to his strength and determination,” Ms Woodhead’s GoFundMe post read.

Mr Paterson’s partner, Rebecca Woodhead, is raising funds to find him on GoFundMe.

Ms Woodhead said the days since his disappearance had been “unbearable”.

“Tragically, during his descent, Daniel went missing, and there has been no contact or sighting of him since. Please help us to find him.

“Time is of the essence in a situation like this, and we are mobilising every resource we can to locate Dan. We are hoping to launching (sic) a search mission with the assistance of a rescue team specialising in search operations in extreme environments.”

Ms Woodhead said the funds raised, which currently sit at £101,416 (AU$195,055) will cover expenses such as helicopter flights and aerial searches, specialised search teams and equipment, communication and coordination efforts as well as logistical support and supplies.

“Conducting a search and rescue operation on Everest is an incredibly complex and costly endeavour,” she added.

“We have been advised by Global Rescue, a world-renowned organisation specialising in search and rescue operations in extreme environments, that similar operations cost in the region of £150,000 (AU$288,497).”

Ms Paterson owns a Cross Fit gym in the UK.

One of the last photos of Mr Paterson and his sherpa.

Throughout the climb of Everest — the world’s highest mountain — Mr Paterson posted frequent updates of photos and videos of his arrival to the Himalayas in Nepal last month and his subsequent ascent.

His posts included visuals of what it was like to live at Base Camp and prepare to tackle the summit, as well as a final emotional post about why he wanted to reach the top — to help raise money for the family of a gym member who had recently died from cancer.

“I don’t get scared much in life, but the thing that scares me most is not achieving this, but I’m trying not to think about it,” the post read.

“All I care about is getting to the top of that mountain. It’s a good journey despite reaching the summit or not, but for me that’s not an option [to fail].”

Ms Woodhead made a heartfelt post on her own personal Instagram page, saying the days following Mr Paterson’s disappearance had been “unbearable”.

“Every day is harder,” she wrote.

“Today has been even more unbearable. I don’t have enough hands to reply to messages. But I have a big enough heart to accept your kindness.”

– with The Sun