Stomach infection ends woman’s Everest quest

ONE of the two women members of Ireland’s Everest team withdrew from the climb yesterday after succumbing to a stomach bug.

Clare O’Leary, 31, a doctor at Cork University Hospital, decided to turn back when it became clear the infection she picked up had weakened her too much for her to continue.

“We were all very disappointed for Clare,” team leader Pat Falvey said last night. “It was very emotional as she left to go back to Base Camp. There were quite a few tears.”

Ms O’Leary is being cared for at Base Camp by her sister Carol, who had gone with a support group to greet the team on their return from the mountain.

Ms O’Leary is the second member of the Irish team to abandon the summit attempt. Last week, George Shorten, also a doctor at Cork University Hospital, had to be airlifted off the mountain when he suffered severe altitude sickness.

“Clare gave it everything she got but she knew it was too dangerous for her to keep going.

“She didn’t want to be the subject of a full rescue like George, so she was brought down the mountain by one of our sherpa guides,” said Mr Falvey.

The remaining team members are Mr Falvey, Mick Murphy, Gerard McDonnell and Hannah Shields, 37, from Derry, now the only female climber left. If she makes it, she will be the first Irish woman to stand on top of Mount Everest.

The climbers are within a few thousand feet of the summit and have begun their final push to the top.

“All going well, we hope to get to the summit between 7am and 9am on Wednesday morning,” Mr Falvey said yesterday.

The climbers have a hurley and sliothar with them and Gerard McDonnell plans to hit a puc fada from the summit of Mount Everest. The hurley will be auctioned for charity when the team return home.

nTo follow the team’s progress log on to their website on www.irisheverest2003.com