A group of mountaineers in Kota Kinabalu is challenging the claims made by veteran climber T. Ravichandran regarding the late Muhammad Hawari Hashim’s Everest climb. The mountaineering groups have gathered information that contradicts Ravichandran’s statement, presenting a timeline of events prior to Hawari’s death and denying his solo ascent.
According to the group, the information they have compiled is based on collective statements from eyewitnesses present during the climb, as well as insights from the group itself. They assert that Hawari, who had hearing disabilities, left Base Camp at 11.30pm on May 13 and reached Camp I at 8am the following day.
Continuing his ascent, Hawari met with Argentinian climber Hernan and his sherpa Nima Ongda, arriving at Camp II at 2.30pm on May 14. The group states that Hernan confirmed Hawari’s presence and even introduced him to Camp Manager Ayu Wanirah, sharing photos of the climb and a selfie with Ravichandran at Camp I.
Afterward, the rest of the team arrived at Camp II at 3.19pm, and they were all together on May 14 after the team’s arrival. The group clarifies that May 15 was a rest day spent at Camp II, with the push to Camp III happening on May 16 and heading to Camp IV on May 17.
During a summit push at 2am on May 18, the group reports that Mingma Dorchi Sherpa discovered Ravichandran just below “Balcony” at 8,300m. Ravichandran was immobile and unresponsive, and the sherpas provided assistance by massaging his body. They spent 40 minutes helping him while increasing his oxygen level to four.
Ravichandran then gestured that he wanted to descend, and the sherpas aided him by dragging him down the mountain. On May 19, Hawari, a participant in the Malaysia Everest 2023 (ME2023) mission, was reported missing while descending from Camp Four after summiting Everest.
On the same day, another participant in the mission, Lt. Col. Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, fell to his death while climbing to the peak of Mount Everest. The search for Hawari was concluded on May 28. Subsequently, Ravichandran shared that he was with Hawari on May 14 but wasn’t certain if Hawari met up with the rest of the team afterwards.
When contacted, Ravichandran declined to comment further citing his ongoing recovery from frostbite. Ravichandran, also known as Everest Ravi, is an experienced climber who has conquered the world’s tallest peak three times.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
