Sir Edmund Hillary Dead at the age of 88

Published 10 January 08 08:27 PM | ronv

"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived. But most of all he was a quintessential Kiwi," New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Friday in announcing Hillary's death.

Hillary scaled the world's highest mountain in 1953, telling companions after the climb: "We knocked the *** off."

The cause of Hillary's death was not announced, but he had been ill for some time and local media reported he had been suffering pneumonia. Radio New Zealand said he died at Auckland City Hospital on Friday morning.

"He was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only knocked off Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity," said Clark.

Born in Auckland on July 20, 1919, Hillary led an uneventful life until he achieved his Everest triumph at the age of 33.

 

Comments

# madmike said on January 11, 2008 03:47 PM:

I heard it here first! Thanks Ron. Here is a link to a nice biography of Sir Edmond Hillary [ http://www.siredmundhillary.com/hillary.html ] presented by: Sir Edmund Hillary Project of the Rotary Club of Mount Victoria Inc., Wellington, New Zealand