The search for Mr Lawless, from Bray, Co Wicklow has now turned into a recovery operation in an area known as the death zone where oxygen levels are very low.

Indian climber Ravi Thakar was found dead inside his tent on Mount Everest at 7,900m Camp Four in Nepal last Friday morning. Severe altitude sickness is being blamed for his death.

The search for a missing Irish man on Mount Everest will resume in the next three days.

Sherpa rescuers have found the bodies of four climbers inside a tent on the highest camp on Mount Everest, raising the death toll this climbing season to 10.