Everest conqueror Hillary leaves hospital

Mountaineering legend and Mount Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary was discharged from a New Zealand hospital today, nearly a week after he was admitted following a reported fall.

Hillary, 87, who climbed the world’s tallest peak in 1953, was taken to Auckland Hospital last Sunday. A hospital spokeswoman confirmed today that Hillary, knighted in 1953 for his feat, had been discharged.

His wife June told National Radio that Hillary “is doing well” but declined to confirm that he was admitted to hospital after a fall.

Hillary was taken to hospital shortly after he returned to New Zealand from a visit to the Himalayas where he met members of the 2007 SuperSherpas Expedition in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

The SuperSherpas Expedition, led by residents of the US state of Utah, hopes to make an historic all-Sherpa attempt on the summit of Everest next month to bring attention to the Sherpa people, who have been a part of every successful attempt on Everest. Many feel their role is under-appreciated.

Hillary’s climbing partner when they scaled the world’s tallest peak was Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.