Veteran Japanese Climber Dies on Mount Everest, it Was His 8th Ascent

Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki (AFP/File Photo)

Veteran Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki died on Mount Everest Monday as he attempted his eighth ascent to the world's tallest peak.

Officials said his body was found in his tent at about 24,000 feet. Kuriki, 35, had failed in seven previous attempts to climb the 29,000-foot mountain with a plan which doesn't include oxygen.

He lost all but one of his fingers to frostbite during an attempt in 2012.

Sunday, Nobukazu said on his blog he would retreat down the mountain without reaching its summit, citing unspecified health issues.

"I feel the pain and difficulty of this mountain," a post said.

A later blog comment from his office said he'd stopped responding via radio, and that a camera crew found him dead of suspected hypothermia.

Nobukazu previously climbed to the summit of the highest mountains on six continents.

He is the second climber to die on Everest this weekend. Macedonian mountaineer Gjeorgi Petkov, 63, died on Sunday as he approached the summit.

This article has been adapted from its original source.