National solo mountaineer T Ravichandran has expressed his sadness over the loss of fellow climber Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub while attempting to reach the highest peak in the world.

“We have been conquering Mount Everest, but this year, Everest beat us," he said tearfully as he recalled his experience with the Kedah Civil Defence Force director who died during his expedition and on missing hearing-impaired climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim...