New Zealand bids farewell to most famous son

DIGNITARIES from around the world paid their respects to Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary at his state funeral yesterday.

The adventurer, who died at 88 of a heart attack on January 11, shot to fame when he scaled the world’s highest mountain with Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953.

His family and about 500 invited guests gathered at St Mary’s Church in Auckland, New Zealand, for the funeral.