British mountaineer Kenton Cool extended his own record for the most Mount Everest ascents by a non-Sherpa, reaching the 8,849-meter summit for the 20th time. The 52-year-old mountain guide completed his historic climb before dawn and began his descent back toward base camp. However, his milestone was shadowed by tragedy, as two Indian climbers died during their descent—one passing away at Camp II and another at the notorious Hillary Step, an area situated deep within the low-oxygen “death zone.” Their deaths bring the total casualties for the climbing season to five, prompting expedition teams to coordinate difficult recovery efforts at extreme altitudes.

Expedition organizers and fellow mountaineers lauded Cool’s achievement, noting that he continues to make the demanding route look routine. Cool first summited Everest in 2004 and has returned almost annually, though he emphasized in a statement that the mountain never becomes less intimidating, relying heavily on his decades of experience to navigate the high-stakes environment safely. While Cool holds the record for any foreign climber, the absolute record for Everest ascents is held by Nepali Sherpa Kami Rita, who secured his 32nd successful summit. Since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first conquered the peak in 1953, more than 8,000 people have successfully scaled the mountain.

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