CJMY
A solemn day for Malaysia as it mourns the loss of 38-year-old Parthiban Kandasamy, a dedicated Foreign Ministry official who met an unfortunate end during his ascent towards the Mount Everest Base Camp.
The tragic incident occurred at 2.30 am (local time) in Gorak Shep, marking the second fatality involving Malaysian climbers on Mount Everest this year.
Remembering Parthiban Kandasamy
Parthiban Kandasamy was serving as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (Pegawai Tadbir Diplomatik) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His untimely passing has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic and climbing communities, leaving many in grief. The Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement confirming the tragic incident and outlined the steps to repatriate Parthiban’s body.
Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Zambry bin Abdul Kadir wrote a heartfelt message on his Facebook page, expressing, “Indeed, the Ministry has lost a highly dedicated employee, beloved by colleagues, and always generous with a smile.
On behalf of the Ministry, I offer my condolences to the family of the late and hope that the family members are granted patience and strength in facing this test.”
Efforts to bring Parthiban home
The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is actively coordinating the transfer of Parthiban’s body from Gorak Shep to Kathmandu, where an autopsy will be conducted at the Teaching Hospital.
The statement from the ministry further explained, “The deceased’s remains will be brought back to Malaysia after all post-mortem and documentation matters are completed.”
Gorakshep village, located at a height of 5,164 meters (16,942 feet), serves as the last stop for lodges on Everest’s trekking route.
Beyond this point, trekkers have no accommodation options, except for camping in tents.
In spring 2023, the mountain witnessed 12 reported deaths, with five climbers still missing and presumed deceased, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17. Partiban is the second Malaysian to meet his fate, Kedah Civil Defence Force director Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub has died while climbing Mount Everest.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Everest 2023 (ME 2023) mission saw Muhammad Hawari Hashim, an accomplished hearing-impaired climber, attempt to conquer Mount Everest. He was reported missing after reaching the summit on May 19.
This marks 2023 as the deadliest year in Everest’s history. The year 2023 has proven to be one of the most chaotic and tragic years in Everest’s history, with record-breaking rescue efforts and continuous helicopter flights to manage the heightened activity and challenges faced by climbers.
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