This article reports on the death of Nepali mountaineer Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma, who died on Mount Everest on May 10, 2026, after suffering from altitude sickness near Camp I. The content is for educational and news documentation purposes only, based on police reports, official statements, and multiple news sources.
Nepali Mountaineer Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma Dies on Everest from Altitude Sickness
The Spring 2026 Everest climbing season has claimed its second life. On the morning of May 10, 2026, veteran Nepali climber and expedition guide Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma died while ascending through the Khumbu Icefall toward Camp I on Mount Everest .
A Sudden Collapse in the Death Zone
According to the District Police Office in Solukhumbu, Ghimire, 35, suddenly fell seriously ill at around 4:00 a.m. local time while at Camp I, located at approximately 19,900 feet (6,060 meters) . He was immediately evacuated toward Base Camp, but he died during the descent .
Officials do not know the exact cause of death, but they believe it resulted from a medical issue—most likely altitude sickness—rather than a fall or collapsing ice . Some initial reports suggest cardiac arrest linked to high-altitude sickness may have been the cause .
Ghimire was working for the Nepali outfitter TAG Nepal Treks and Expeditions . Following his death, his body was airlifted by helicopter from the mountain to Lukla and was being prepared for transport to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu for a post-mortem examination .
Breaking Social Barriers: The First Dalit to Summit Everest
Beyond his technical expertise, Ghimire was widely respected for breaking historic social barriers in Nepal’s mountaineering community. He is recognized as the first person from Nepal’s marginalized Dalit ethnic group to summit Mount Everest when he reached the peak’s apex in 2016 .
The Dalit community has historically been considered the lowest caste in Nepal’s societal hierarchy, a structure that remains prevalent despite being officially abolished in 1963 . In a 2019 YouTube interview, Ghimire reflected on this achievement: “Nepal is still a caste-dominated society. By being the first Dalit to summit Mount Everest, I showed society that we are humans, too” .
Ghimire had summited Everest four times in total and had also been working as a climbing guide and travel content creator on YouTube, documenting life in the Himalayas and sharing the realities of high-altitude expeditions with audiences across Nepal .
A Challenging and Deadly 2026 Climbing Season
Ghimire’s death marks the second fatality of the 2026 Everest climbing season . The first occurred on May 4, when veteran Sherpa climber Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, 52, died while hiking from the village of Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp .
This season has already been heavily affected by dangerous ice conditions in the Khumbu Icefall—one of the deadliest sections of the South Col route. A massive unstable serac delayed the opening of the climbing route for weeks, forcing expedition teams to postpone acclimatization rotations and compress the summit window into a much shorter period .
After extensive route work, a joint rope-fixing team under the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee finally opened the route to Camp IV at the South Col on May 8 . However, the danger in the icefall remains extremely high. Earlier in the week, a serac collapse inside the Khumbu Icefall injured two climbers moving toward Camp II, and the SPCC had already warned climbers that the unstable ice formation could collapse “at any time” .
With a record 492 climbing permits issued for Everest this spring—surpassing the previous high of 479 permits issued in 2023—concerns are growing about congestion, safety management, and the increasing pressure placed on Sherpa guides working in dangerous conditions .
A Tragic Loss for Nepal’s Mountaineering Community
For the family of Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma, for the community of Solududhkunda Municipality, and for all those who knew him—on the mountain and off it—the pain of this loss is immeasurable. He was a man who broke barriers, inspired others, and dedicated his life to the peaks he loved. His death is a stark reminder that even for the most experienced climbers, Everest remains unpredictable, unforgiving, and deadly.
Ghimire’s body was transported to Kathmandu for post-mortem examination, after which it will be handed over to his family for final rites .
Primary Sources:
Outside Magazine – “A Mount Everest Climber From Nepal Died in the Khumbu Icefall” (May 10, 2026)
myRepublica – “Everest climber dies of altitude sickness during expedition” (May 10, 2026)
The Himalayan Times – “Everest claims second life as Nepali climber dies in Icefall amid record-breaking spring” (May 10, 2026)
Onlinekhabar English – “Everest climber dies of altitude sickness during expedition” (May 10, 2026)
Khabarhub – “Climber dies after suffering altitude sickness on Everest” (May 10, 2026)
The Annapurna Express – “Everest climber dies of altitude sickness” (May 10, 2026)
epardafas.com – “Everest Expedition Guide Dies of Altitude Sickness During Climb” (May 10, 2026)
Explore All About Nepal – “Everest Climber Bijay Ghimire Bishwakarma Dies During 2026 Expedition in Camp I” (May 10, 2026)