Agencies
Sir Edmund Hillary, who made a historic first ascent of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, has died aged 88.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark described the explorer as a heroic figure and said all New Zealanders would deeply mourn his passing.
Sir Edmund’s health had reportedly been in decline since April, when he suffered a fall while visiting Nepal.
He was the first man to climb the 8,850m (29,035ft) peak, with Tenzing Norgay, on 29 May 1953.
Returning to Everest’s South Col camp, he famously greeted another member of the British expedition group with the words: “Well, George, we’ve knocked the bastard off. [Read more]