17-8-2023 (SINGAPORE) The unfortunate demise of a Singaporean man, Mr. Darrel Phee, due to health complications arising from altitude sickness while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro has raised questions about the challenges posed by such expeditions. Mr. Phee passed away on August 9, and though he appeared well upon returning to the campsite the day before, his condition took a sudden turn for the worse.
According to Mr. Mathew Jacky Mollel, the founder and director of Wild Root Safaris and Adventures, whose guides were leading the tour group Mr. Phee was a part of, Mr. Phee began experiencing discomfort on August 8, the day designated for summiting the mountain. The climb was scheduled to span from August 3 to August 11.
Mr. Mollel stated that Mr. Phee was accompanied back to the campsite by a guide and “was measured and was okay” upon his return. He even managed to have dinner. However, the next morning around 6am, he was discovered in a bathroom by a guide.
Singaporean travel agency Adventures Unlimited, in an early August 12 Facebook post, conveyed the tragic news of Mr. Phee’s death during the Kilimanjaro trek. Mr. Phee, a 28-year-old member of their team, had been on the expedition. The post mentioned that his “readings and symptoms have been normal throughout the days of the hike.” However, on the morning of the summit hike, his oxygen levels plummeted while his heart rate escalated.
In consideration of safety protocols, it was decided that Mr. Phee would not proceed to scale the mountain. He returned to the campsite under the guidance of a professional. While at the campsite, he was closely monitored as per standard procedure. Eventually, Mr. Phee was transported to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center.
Tragically, the onset of altitude sickness led to severe complications in his health, resulting in his passing away. The cause of death was asphyxia and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), as disclosed by Adventures Unlimited.
While fatal incidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are uncommon, with a probability of less than 1 percent, the agency emphasized the potential contributing factors like high altitude, adverse weather conditions, the physical state of the climber, and the strenuous nature of the climb itself.
