Irish mountaineer Noel Hanna dies in Nepal’s Annapurna

News

by Olivia Land

April 18, 2023 | 2:48 p.m

A famous Northern Irish mountaineer died this week while descending the 10th highest peak in the world.

Noel Hanna, 56, died overnight in Camp 4 after summiting Annapurna, the 26,545-foot peak in north-central Nepal, on Monday, RTÉ reported.

While the cause of Hana’s death was not revealed, Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told the outlet that his body had already been taken to Kathmandu.

Over the course of his climbing career, Hanna has climbed Mount Everest 10 times, ascending the highest peaks on all seven continents, CBS News said.

In 2006, he capped his climb to the summit of Mount Everest with a two-week bike ride from base camp to the coast of eastern India.

According to the BBC, in 2018 he became the first Irish person to successfully reach and descend the second highest mountain in the world, K2.

However, Annapurna is considered particularly perilous due to its avalanche-prone conditions. The accomplished climber, 28-year-old Jeet Kore, was rescued from the mountain on Tuesday after falling ill while descending. The Guardian reported.

Another climber, Anurag Malu, fell into crevasses on Monday and has yet to be recovered.

Speaking to BBC News Evening Extra, Hanna’s sister, Erin Hunter, said her brother “loved the sight and he just loved people”.

Hunter added that he “didn’t really say much” about the dangers he faced during the climb because he “didn’t want to worry us all.”

“[He was] “Legend,” she said.

Hanna was also praised by Northern Irish politician Geoffrey Donaldson.

“It was an honor to meet Noel and hear about his mountaineering exploits, including his conquest of Everest,” he told RTÉ.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and fellow mountaineers at this sad time.”

In addition to his sister and friends, Hanna is survived by his wife, Lynn, who is also a respected mountaineer.