Filipino mountaineer dies while scaling Mount Everest
A Filipino mountaineer died in his attempt to scale Mount Everest, the Earth's highest mountain above sea level, in Nepal.
The Himalayan Times reported that Philipp Santiago II died at Camp IV, dubbed the "Death Zone," while preparing for the summit push in the night. The camp is located 26,000 feet above sea level on the South Col, where the atmospheric pressure is lower and makes breathing difficult. Climbers are required to have supplemental, bottled oxygen—and bear with the freezing temperature and extreme weather.
The local Department of Tourism noted that Santiago's death is the first for a foreign climber in this year's climbing season.
The Times didn't specify the cause of his death. At the time, it said efforts were underway to bring Santiago's body to the base camp.
Before that, two Sherpa support staff, who fell ill at the Everest base camp, were evacuated but died at the hospital while getting treatment, according to the Times.
Santiago, an engineer by profession, was part of the Mountaineering Association of Krishnanagar - Snowy Everest Expedition 2025, according to Bodhraj Bhandari, the managing director of the expedition company Snowy Horizon Treks.
The Philippine 14 Peaks Expedition Team, whose members Jeno Panganiban and Miguel Mapalad are set to reach Mount Everest's summit on May 18, extended its deepest condolences to Santiago's family.
"Engr. PJ was not only a skilled and passionate climber but also a symbol of courage, perseverance, and love for the mountains," the group said in a Facebook post. "His journey and spirit have inspired so many in the Filipino mountaineering community and beyond. We honor his bravery and unwavering determination. The entire team grieves this heartbreaking loss, and we hold Engr. PJ close in our hearts as we continue our own journey."
"May he find peace in the great heights above, where the skies are clear and the winds are calm. You climbed higher than most ever dream, your legacy lives on Engr. PJ. You will never be forgotten," it added.
In a Facebook video, Santiago described the attempt as "a climb of a lifetime."
"Ever since I was a child, I always had this urge of wanting to see the edge and come back to tell my story about it," he said.
Aside from personal goals, he said he's climbing Mount Everest to promote advocacies like Clean Water Philippines and the fight against children's cancer.
Mount Everest has an elevation of 29,031 feet.
According to The Himalayan Database, eight Filipinos have scaled the mountain.
The Philippine STAR reported that Leo Oracion was widely held as the first Filipino to reach the Mount Everest summit on May 17, 2006.
But Dale Abenojar stirred controversy after claiming he had reached the summit via the north face the previous day.
The Himalayan Database stated that 340 local climbers have died from 1921 to September 2024.
