Climber’s fatal mistake before embarking on ‘most dangerous climb on earth’ | World | News
He tried to climb Everest alone (Image: @ Didier Marti via Getty Images)
Mount Everest, often idealised as a must-visit destination, is one of the most perilous places on earth, with the world’s highest peak claiming numerous lives.
However, none of these fatalities are as peculiar or as chilling as the death of Maurice Wilson, who attempted the climb in 1934 under what can only be termed extraordinary circumstances.
Wilson, a Bradford-born British Army officer with virtually no mountaineering experience, endeavoured to scale the mountain solo, convinced that through prayer and astonishingly, fasting, he would safely reach the summit.
Unlike many contemporary Everest disasters, Wilson’s death was not due to overcrowding, bottlenecks or commercial expeditions. After all, his attempt took place long before the era of guided climbs, queues for bottled oxygen or social media fame.
Wilson held the belief that conquering Everest would validate his deeply rooted spiritual beliefs to the public, demonstrating the invincible power of faith.
Maurice Wilson made a fatal mistake (Image: undefined)
Having survived the First World War and later convincing himself that he had healed tuberculosis through prayer and fasting, he became fixated on the notion that divine intervention would enable him to triumph where professional climbers had faltered.
His scheme was, in reality, utterly mad. Wilson intended to fly a small plane from Britain to Tibet, crash-land it high on the mountain, and then simply trek the remaining distance to reach the summit, reports <a href=”https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/strangest-death-ever-happen-mount-36550047″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>the Mirror</a>.
Despite his lack of climbing experience, Wilson was a competent pilot. In 1933, he accomplished a hazardous solo flight from Britain to India in a second-hand Gypsy Moth biplane, although local authorities subsequently seized the aircraft.
Maurice Wilson had survived World War One (Image: undefined)
Unfazed, the audacious Wilson managed to reclaim the plane by disguising himself as a Buddhist monk. He then sold the aircraft and illegally crossed into Tibet on foot, eventually reaching the base of Mount Everest despite his initial plan being scuppered.
In the spring of 1934, Wilson embarked alone up the mountain’s secluded northern side. His diary later exposed a shocking lack of knowledge about glaciers, altitude and ice climbing.
He didn’t take essential equipment, assumed steps cut into the ice the previous year might still be there, and heavily relied on faith to surmount obstacles.
Despite numerous unsuccessful attempts and pleas from two Sherpas who briefly joined him to give up the ascent, Wilson remained resolute.
On 29 May 1934, he embarked on a solo journey towards the North Col. His last diary entry, wrote on 31 May, simply stated: “Off again, gorgeous day.”
Tragically, he was never seen alive again.
Maurice Wilson wanted to crash land a plane on the mountain (Image: Getty)
In the subsequent year, Wilson’s body was found at the base of the North Col by a British expedition led by Eric Shipton. He was discovered frozen next to the remnants of his tent, likely having succumbed to exhaustion or starvation.
His final resting place was a nearby crevasse where he was laid to rest.
