Dromara adventurer dies

Dromara adventurer dies

19 April 2023

TRIBUTES have been paid to Dromara climber Noel Hanna who died on Monday while descending one of the world’s highest mountains.

The professional mountain guide and close protection bodyguard — who provided security for former US president Bill Clinton on one of his visits to Ireland — passed away after an incident on Mount Annapurna in Nepal, the 10th highest mountain in the world, standing 8,091 metres above sea level.

Mr Hanna (56), who was one of Ireland’s best known mountaineers, had scaled Mount Everest 10 times in his career and in 2018 became the first person from Ireland to climb and descend K2, the world’s second highest mountain.

Mingma Sherpa, chairman at Seven Summit Treks, said Mr Hanna “breathed his last in Camp IV last night”.

Record-holding Indian climber Baljeet Kaur also went missing near Camp IV while descending from the summit point on Monday. Initially presumed dead, she has been reportedly found alive.

In a social media post, Mourne Mountain Adventures said it was “very saddened” to learn of Mr Hanna’s passing.

“Local to the Mournes, Noel was the first person from Ireland to successfully climb K2, and astonishingly he climbed the summit of Everest 10 times,” the post continued.

“There is some peace in that he spent his last moments doing what he loved best, such a great man and one of Northern Ireland’s finest mountaineers”.

Mournes councillor Laura Devlin said the local community has been left “devastated” by Mr Hanna’s passing.

“This is awful news to wake up to,” she said yesterday. “Noel was an absolute gentleman who I first met away back during my Burrendale gym days. 

Cllr Devlin added: “To say he was an athlete was an understatement. He was an incredible climber who climbed Everest many, many times. Noel was such an interesting person with so much life experience and always up for a chat.

“This news is devastating and I am thinking of his wife Lynne and all their family and friends.”

DUP MLA Paul Frew said he was also sorry to learn of Mr Hanna’s death.

He posted on social media: “Noel was an absolute legend climbing K2, Manaslu, and Everest 10 times. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.”