Sir Edmund Hillary dies

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With Hillary's death, at age 88, both the men who first reached the summit of the highest mountain in the world are gone. His climbing partner Tenzing Norgay died in 1986. 

"Hillary's parting brings to close the life of one of the world’s most remarkable mountaineers," says UIAA President Mike Mortimer. " His achievement on Mount Everest inspired a whole generation of mountaineers."

Hillary himself said that even though he much enjoyed his climb of Everest and trips to the poles, the most worthwhile thing he had done was working for the Sherpa community through the Himalayan Trust. The trust works together with the local communities to provide education and basic health services for the Sherpas.

Read more about Sir Edmund Hillary here.