Kenyan guide, British climber die after ‘slipping on ice’ while descending Mt Kenya

Kenyan guide, British climber die after ‘slipping on ice’ while descending Mt Kenya

Renowned Mt Kenya guide Kelvin Muriuki Mwithi. He died as he attempted to save a British climber from falling off a cliff during a descent on Mt Kenya. Photo I Courtesy

A British climber, identified as Shilpa Shah, aged 60, fell to her death on Tuesday alongside her tour guide Kelvin Muriuki Mwithi who attempted to rescue her as they were on a descent from Peak Lenana on Mount Kenya.

According to The Sun, the pair tragically slid over the cliff edge between Lenana and the Austrian Hut on the Naro Moru route, which is one of the most famous routes favoured by hikers.

Shah was reportedly one of eight in an all-women group of climbers who also witnessed the horror fall as they battled the notoriously snowy slope.

Rescue teams had to make three attempts to recover the bodies on Friday afternoon due to poor weather conditions.

The Foreign Office in London sent its condolences to the family and said it's in contact with local authorities on the way forward.

"We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Kenya and are in contact with local authorities," said the Foreign Office.

Colleagues of Mwithi are crowdsourcing funds from Facebook for the tour guide's widow and child left behind.

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Mt Kenya British Kelvin Muriuki Mwithi Shilpa Shah

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