A Greek mountaineer died Tuesday April 12 during the descent of Mount Dhaulagiri, an 8170-meter peak in Nepal, we learned from the organizers of his expedition.
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Antonios Sykaris, 59, died a day after posting a photo on Instagram of himself triumphant atop Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain in the world. He fell ill during the descent and his health rapidly deteriorated. “He died at an altitude of 7400 meters. We are in contact with his familyhigh mountain guide Mingma Sherpa told AFP.
Antonios Sykaris was an experienced mountaineer who had previously climbed five other peaks over 8,000 meters, according to his website. This is the first death recorded since the beginning of spring in the Himalayas, a season which attracts hundreds of mountaineers to Nepal each year thanks to milder temperatures and less violent winds. The Nepalese authorities have already granted climbing permits to 530 people for this season, including 204 for Everest, the highest peak in the world.