Millionaire climber dies in SA
2004-01-13 22:18
Franschoek - Norwegian mountaineer Arne Naess died in an accident in the Franschhoek mountains on Tuesday, police said.
Senior superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht, speaking for Interpol South Africa, said Naess was a guest of Johan Rupert, son of business magnate Anton Rupert.
The accident apparently happened on the Rupert farm.
She did not have more details.
Naess was at one time married to soul diva Diana Ross.
According to www.everesthistory.com, Naess, born on August 12 1937, summitted Everest on April 29 1985 via the standard South East Ridge route as leader of a Norwegian expedition.
In the team was another famous mountaineer - Chris Bonington.
Naess, a millionaire ship owner, had Bonington as his "chief of staff".
His famous uncle, after whom he was named, was a leader in the World War 2 Norwegian resistance and was considered the father of "Deep Ecology" - a philosophy of articulate ecological beliefs, which works to shape ecological dialogue with non-ecological forces.
- SAPA