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Hillary in 'chipper' condition
25/04/2007 16:02 - (SA)
Wellington - Mountaineering legend Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Mount Everest, is recovering well in a New Zealand hospital after a fall, said a family member on Wednesday.
Hillary, 87, who climbed the world's tallest peak in 1953, reportedly had a fall during the weekend, and was admitted to Auckland Hospital.
His family and doctors have not disclosed where the fall occurred, but it was unlikely to have been during any outdoor pursuit.
Hillary has been walking with the aid of a cane for several years.
His wife, Lady June Hillary, said in a statement on Tuesday that Hillary was admitted to the hospital after the couple returned on Sunday from a visit to Nepal's capital, Katmandu.
By Wednesday the iconic adventurer was in a "chipper" condition in Auckland Hospital, said Hillary's daughter-in-law Yvonne Oomen.
She said Hillary was in "good condition", echoing Lady Hillary's comment on Tuesday.
'Historic attempt'
The hospital, under patient privacy rules, has declined comment.
Before he was admitted to hospital Hillary had just visited the Himalayas and met members of the 2007 "SuperSherpas Expedition" in Nepal's capital, Katmandu.
SuperSherpas Expedition, led by residents of the US state of Utah, hopes to make a 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.
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