Famous mountaineer Noel Hanna, 56, lost his life in the Himalayas

He had just reached Annapurna Peak, at 8091 meters above sea level, the tenth highest peak in the world. Noel Hanna died, under unspecified circumstances, shortly after his return. His body was taken from Annapurna Base Camp to Kathmandu. The 56-year-old mountaineer wasn’t his first experience in such extreme conditions. Known for having climbed the highest peak in the world, Everest ten times. In 2006, he cycled from the summit of 8,849m to ride the Bay of Bengal in just two weeks.

2019, the year of all records

Noel Hanna is known for his solo high mountain exploits, but also for his ability to push others to surpass themselves. 2019 is going to be a crazy year. In February, he helped Decatur Boland, 12, climb with his father to the summit of South America’s highest volcano, Pico de Orisabo in Mexico (5,636 metres). This was the first time that such a young boy had accomplished such a climb. In May, Noel takes Sarah Kumalo to the summit of Mount Everest. She became the first black African woman to reach Everest. To end his year in style, the Irishman decided to climb the eighth highest mountain in the world, Mount Manaslu 8163 meters, with his wife Lyn Hanna, the first Irish woman to reach a summit of more than 8000 meters without oxygen.