Failure to save 2 mountaineers traumatises Ravichandran

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian businessman of Indian origin, who climbed Mt Everest last month in aid of charity, says he was traumatised by the fact that he was unable to save two mountaineers who died on the world's highest mountain.

Briton David Sharp and Brazilian Vitor Negrete died two days after T Ravichandan, the first Malaysian to complete a solo ascent on Everest, had descended.

Ravichandran said he had come to know Sharp and Negrete while at base camp. Sharp died at 6,400 m and Negrete at 7,900 m, both while descending.

Reports here quoted Ravichandran, the group managing director of the TR Group of Companies, as saying that he was very affected by the fact that he could not save the two.

"I tried to give Sharp oxygen and tried talking to him, but he just wasn't there any more," a report in Star quoted him as saying. Nursing nine frostbitten fingers, Ravichandran said that he might try another attempt at the peak from the southern side, but added that one shouldn't try this alone.

He had conquered Everest on May 15 with the message, "To inspire and motivate others, especially corporates for fulfiling their social responsibility/obligations through donations and to improve the quality of life of the people in charity houses."

The Malaysian Indian Congress, the premier party representing the Indian community in Malaysia, is planning a reception in honour of Ravichandran.