Wakefield personal trainer missing on Mount Everest after ice fall in 'death zone'

A 40 year old personal trainer from Wakefield has gone missing in the treacherous 'death zone' of Mount Everest following an icefall incident. Daniel Paul Paterson, along with his guide Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23, lost contact on their descent after reaching the peak around 4.40am last Tuesday.

The duo are believed to have been at the Hillary Step, a lethal technical section near the South Summit, when sections of overhanging ice broke off and fell. The Hazardous Hillary Step presents climbers with a 12-metre vertical rock face; it's the most complex part of the usual route up Everest, boasting daunting 3,000 and 2,400-metre drops on either side during descent.

"Eyewitnesses reported the incident took place between Summit Ridge and South Summit and some climbers were swept away in Kangshung Face," reported Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions on Instagram. Mr Paterson was a member of a 15-strong team from 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian mountaineer David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe, reports the Mirror.

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According to local press reports, three members of the expedition have already been rescued, while search efforts are ongoing for the others. "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," stated 8K Expeditions.

A member of the Everest base camp team disclosed to The Times: "A cornice broke off and washed down a few climbers including Daniel and his guide towards the Tibet side."

The avid mountaineer was honouring a friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club, where he's a co-owner, by dedicating his climb and had recently shared the news that £10,000 had been raised for her family.

Daniel Patterson, who was preparing in the Himalayas last year for the ascent, expressed his ambition on social media, saying: "My dream will always be to conquer this." It has been reported by officials that over 450 climbers have successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepali southern side during this season, which is drawing to a close shortly.

The prime window for scaling Everest and its neighbouring peaks typically falls in April and May, when the weather conditions are most amenable. This season saw Nepalese authorities grant a substantial number of permits to international climbers, with an equal number of local Sherpa guides supporting their endeavours.