Dentist’s Everest Dream Ended by 100mph Gusts
A Leicester dentist who was agonisingly close to completing his dream of climbing Everest has admitted he was gutted when the expedition was called off after 100mph winds hit the region.
Dr Amit Kotecha, from Kirby Muxloe in Leicestershire, was near the summit of the mountain when extremely strong winds hit the mountain, causing avalanches and poor visibility.
The 43-year-old dentist reached Camp Three, which lies at 23,621 feet, before the trip was called off. He was less than 2,000 metres short of the summit.
Dr Kotecha said that the conditions were “absolutely terrible” as the strong winds, reached up to 100mph, battering the tents and causing avalanches. Kotecha said that it was disappointing to abandon the trip, but he could not have continued in the conditions, as it was simply too dangerous.
This was the second time Dr Kotecha had tried to combat Everest, after the first trip was abandoned after one of the Sherpa guides fell into a crevasse. The incident, which happened in 2010, left Dr Kotecha shaken but he was determined to try and achieve his dream and vowed to take on the challenge again in the future.
Dr Kotecha was hoping to raise money for Cancer Research UK in remembrance of his mother, Mira, who had succumbed cancer 20 years ago. The dentist had already paid £26,000 for the expedition and returned home earlier this week after flying out to Nepal on April 5th. He said that he was “bitterly disappointed” but that he must put his role as a father first.
A sum of £27,000 was donated Cancer Research UK and Simon O’Leary, from the charity, thanked Dr Kotecha for his brave endeavours.
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