Near death on Everest, bring on the skiiing
An Australian thrill-seeker who almost died on Mount Everest is “healing fast’’.
An Australian mountaineer who almost died attempting to climb Mount Everest without oxygen last month is “healing well and fast” now that he is back on home soil, and hopes to hit the slopes before the end of this ski season.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Gilian Lee said he was hoping to be completely healed in two months after his fourth attempt to climb the world’s highest mountain with a chest infection and without oxygen almost killed him in May.
The IT specialist from Canberra said his kidneys had shut down by the time he had reached Kathmandu Hospital after his two Sherpa guides carried out a difficult rescue involving a makeshift sled and a 22km journey on a yak.
Mr Lee collapsed at an altitude of 7600 metres — known as the “death zone”— after he was coughing profusely and having difficulty breathing.
“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 to 100 per cent by six weeks time if I didn’t damage it too much.
“I will be seeing a neurologist for the brain haematoma this week and a cardiologist just to be safe.”
Mr Lee said frostbite on his toe was “annoying” him because it was preventing him from skiing.
“Hoping everything heals in two months max,” he said.
“Trying 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”.
He told the Seven Network’s Sunday Night program that his Everest attempt was “unfinished business”.
He acknowledged he “made the wrong call” by pushing his body to the limit and endangering not only his life but the lives of his Sherpa guides as well.
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