Overview
- Arun Kumar Tiwari, 53, summited Mount Everest and then fell ill near the Hillary Step during descent on May 21, where Sherpas administered oxygen but he died in the death zone.
- Following days of assessment, the family told organisers on May 26–27 that they would leave his body on the mountain for religious reasons and because recovery would endanger others.
- Expedition organiser Pioneer Adventure initially quoted about $114,000 for a manual recovery above 8,000 metres and later reduced the price to about $94,000, describing the work as a separate, high-risk operation.
- Operators and guides say a recovery from the Hillary Step would need eight to 10 highly skilled Sherpas, days of cutting frozen remains from ice, large extra oxygen supplies and long, exposed lowerings to Camp II where helicopters can operate.
- The family has opened an online fundraiser for Tiwari’s wife and daughters and organisers warn that leaving a body on the mountain can cause administrative hurdles in Kathmandu for formal death documentation.