Climber dies in associate’s arms after avalanche on one in every of world’s tallest mountains

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Shelley Johannesen, 53, a mum-of-three and co-founder of adventure company Dash Adventures, died after being caught in an avalanche while descending Mount Makalu in Nepal – the world’s fifth-highest peak

Need to know: tragic avalanche claims life of us climber on mount makalu

• A heartbroken climber has told how his partner died in his arms after being caught in a deadly avalanche on one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
• Shelley Johannesen, 53, from Oregon, was killed while descending Mount Makalu in Nepal after reaching the summit of the world’s fifth-highest peak. The mum-of-three and adventure company boss died on Monday after suffering injuries in an avalanche at around 24,000ft.
• Her devastated partner David Ashley, who was climbing alongside her, confirmed the tragedy on social media. He wrote: “She died in my arms high on the mountain due to injuries sustained by an avalanche.”
• Ashley later described his grief as “utterly soul crushing” and revealed he had sought professional help to cope with the loss. “I’ve reached out to a mental health/grief counsellor today,” he wrote.
• Johannesen had been documenting her expedition online before the climb, writing in her final post: “This is going to be a tough climb. Different than Everest and I am excited to see, experience, feel what I have to offer this mountain.”
• The tragedy came just months after Ashley launched a fundraising campaign for the expedition, aiming to become the first living kidney donor to attempt climbing the peak. He had donated a kidney to a former military classmate in 2017 before climbing Mount Everest.
• Ashley is now arranging cremation services in Nepal before planning a memorial service in the US with Johannesen’s family.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Climber mum-of-three dies in arms of partner after ‘soul-crushing’ avalanche