- Subrata Ghosh, 45, from Bengal, died below the Hillary Step after summiting Mount Everest.
- He reportedly refused to descend due to severe exhaustion and altitude sickness.
- Efforts are ongoing to recover his body while investigations continue.
Subrata Ghosh, a 45-year-old climber from Ranaghat, Bengal, died while descending Mount Everest on May 15 after successfully reaching the summit as part of the Krishnanagar–Snowy Everest Expedition 2025.
The death of Ghosh follows that of Philipp II Santiago, a climber from the Philippines who died while ascending at South Col the previous day. Both climbers were part of the same international expedition led by Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition.
Mount Everest Claims Two Lives in 2025 Climbing Season
The 2025 Everest climbing season has already witnessed two tragic deaths, marking a somber start to the expedition period. Subrata Ghosh, 45, from Bengal, and Philipp II Santiago, also 45, from the Philippines, succumbed to exhaustion and altitude sickness while on separate sections of the mountain. Ghosh died during his descent from the summit, while Santiago passed away at South Col on his way up.
Reports indicate that Ghosh became immobile below the Hillary Step, a critical point just before the summit, where climbers must navigate treacherous terrain at over 8,700 meters. His expedition guide, Champal Tamang, stated that Ghosh refused to descend despite severe exhaustion, ultimately succumbing to the harsh conditions.
Santiago’s death occurred late on May 14 while resting in his tent at South Col. According to officials, he was reportedly exhausted and unable to continue, highlighting the extreme physical and mental toll that Everest expeditions exert on climbers.
The Nepal government has issued 459 permits for Everest climbs this season, attracting climbers from around the world. With the climbing window closing soon, the focus now shifts to recovery operations for both Ghosh and Santiago, as well as the continued monitoring of climbers facing critical conditions in the death zone.
The 2025 Everest climbing season serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by mountaineers, where the drive to conquer the world’s highest peak can sometimes come at a tragic cost.
“Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence.” — Hermann Buhl
