Andrew Brash

News

200 metres from Everest summit, Canadian halts climb to rescue man
CBC News Viewpoint | May 2006

A Calgary woman says she's very proud of her husband for being part of a team that saved an Australian climber who was left for dead on Mount Everest.

"I know he feels he made the right decision," Jennifer Brash said of her husband Andrew. "He was very close to the summit, but more importantly, he did the right thing for this climber," she told CBC News on Saturday ( May 27).

Lincoln Hall reached the summit on Thursday and was descending with his Russian-led expedition when he reportedly became delirious, a sign of fluid on the brain, and could not be moved. His wife and teenage sons had been told he had died.

Hall spent the night alone at an elevation of 8,700 metres, before other climbers including the Calgarian found him the next morning.

Brash was only 200 metres from the summit when he decided to abandon his climb and help the Australian, his wife said.

The rescue of the Australian mountaineer follows the well-publicized and controversial death of another Everest climber last week.

David Sharp of England died on the mountain of apparent oxygen deprivation, and reports have alleged that more than 40 fellow mountaineers opted not to assist him despite his situation.

Your letters:

I am saying this as a mountaineer myself, who sometimes focuses too much on peaking a mountain. Everybody knows that climbers above 8000 meters run the risk of being left behind if they can not walk for themselves. They know all this - and accept the risk.

I will not judge the 40 other climbers, walking by their fellow climber, either believing he is dead or believing there is no chance to get him down without risking the lives of others.

But I will judge Mr. Brash. He decided to scrap all his hard work and dedication for an humanitarian act. An act which for the outsiders, sitting in a safe and sound environment looks so obvious - but being at 8700 meters is by far not. You will now be remembered not as one of the thousands of Mt. Everest summitters, but as a selfless person - as a hero!!

—Axel Hallbauer | Edmonton

What can one add after reading the other comments? It's all been said, but it's such an inspiring feat of humane behaviour and personal moral courage that I think it bears repeating.

Mr. Branch is one fine human being and although I believe he probably will feel more slightly embarrassed at all the praise than wallow in it, I want to add my voice to the wave of approval.

—Dan Lacroix | Québec, Que.

Andrew Brash is my daughter's grade 9 teacher and when he broke the news to the class he would be leaving for 2 months to climb Everest, I think the class was a little shocked. My daughter must have cried the whole night when he said goodbye to them.

He is a wonderful teacher, person and I am sure a great father as well. My daughter had nothing but praise for him. He was such an inspiration to the class and they had utmost respect for him for his accomplishments.

After his heroic feat on Mt. Everest, this is the ultimate inspiration for our youth and means more than reaching the peak itself. What an honour for our school and the children to even have know him. I thank God he is safe and able to return to his wife, baby and our children. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

—Noshy Karbani | Calgary

Andrew Brash, Thank-you for putting the life of another before a goal that you must have worked towards for years. I am proud that you are Canadian and hope that you win a variety of humanitarian awards. I hope that this becomes your claim to fame - an sacrifice to be justly proud of.

Every sport encourages a person to do their best - but we also need to be the best person we can be. Congratulations on doing both.

—Leslie | Ottawa

I am a Canadian teaching in Singapore. I proudly related this story to the Australian teachers on staff. One was moved to tears. She feels Andrew Brash will be made a hero in Australia for this act of altruism. Well done Mr. Brash

—Grant Walker | Singpore, Sinapore

Andrew Brash, I deeply respect your decision to help a fallen climber rather than push for the peak. And if, as so many other people are saying, your actions epitomize Canadian ethics, bless you and bless Canada for instilling such good, human ethics in its citizens.

One more reason for many of us in the U.S. to feel a great deal of respect for Canada and Canadians. Canadians SHOULD be proud of Andrew Brash!

—Chris Herb | Durango, Colorado

Mr. Brash has done what would be expected of every Canadian and he should be commended for it. His action to save a life instead of turning away should be recognized by our government and be a beacon of inspiration to Canadians both at home and abroad.

He could climb a thousand mountains in his lifetime but nothing would give him the satisfaction of accomplishment that this courageous act did. This is the same heroism that our troops overseas demonstrate daily and gives him the same respect as we citizens hold for our men and women in uniform.

—Carl Burns | Halifax

Congratulations to Mr. Branch. He is a true hero and should be celebrated as such. People like Mr. Branch make me proud to be Canadian. What a winning combination...courage and compassion. Long live Canada!

—Nancy Kelman | Bowmanville, Ont.

Well done and congratulations on being a great human being (and not just a climber)!

I have done some mountaineering myself and know how tempting it would be, to push for a major summit, especially Everest. Plus, the thinking on these climbs is rarely 100% clear as thin air and fatigue play havoc with people's minds.

Therefore, again, Mr. Brash, you have done a wonderful, and in the long run a very smart thing. You will be remembered much longer than any other climber who stood on Everest in 2005/06.

And, last but not least...I do not want to judge those climbers who failed to stop to help another injured mountaineer. It's their choice and I wasn't there to witness it, so I'll never know exactly how events unfolded.

—Jan Triska | Ottawa, Ont.

I think that rescuing a stricken fellow climber shows that the right set of values won out. Life is more precious than trophies and it seems to be something that the 40 climbers who passed up the other stricken climber and let him die clearly lost sight of that fact.

It was a miracle that he was still alive to be rescued -- perhaps that fact helped them decide to continue the miracle. They should be proud of themselves not disappointed.

—Anita Moore | Edmonton

I am appalled that climbers (so-called) on Everest would just leave someone to die. Thank God for Canadians! Andrew gets my admiration.

I climbed, many, many years ago, in the rockies, Yosemite and Gaspé, and I was friends with two men who climbed Everest. Never, in all those years, did any of us hear of the kind of selfishness reported on Everest last week.

In my day, the rule on a climb was that you always helped. Period. Some have died 'helping'.

Everest should be closed. It's turned into a business and it seems most of those who climb do so with little else in mind than career building!

—Matt Scott | N.S.

Thank you Andrew Brash for restoring my faith in humanity. After that 'other' Everest episode last week I was starting to wonder if there were any people left with a sense of honor.

Andrew is a true hero, and a true climber, and all Canadians can be very proud of what he did. He should at least get a medal and an all-expenses paid trip back to the mountain courtesy of the Canadian taxpayer.

The 40 'climbers' who summitted and left a man to die? It's too sickening to even think about.

—Steve O'Brien | N.L.

I am glad to hear that some of climbers of Everest face challenges other than that of just climbing a big mountain and obtaining glory. The Canadian responsible for saving an Australian climber's life SHOULD receive the order of Canada.

While it isdefinitelyy something to be proud of and the story mostdefinitelyy can be inspiring, nothing beats the true nature of an athlete who demonstrates courage to let go of their goal to help others, one who demonstrates true sportsmanship and compassion.

We should all play by the same rules. We should never let another die alone to pursue our own goal. The climbers should be ashamed of themselves. —Cecilia Bergeron | Ont.

What a great and refreshing story, more so with the recent example of a man left with no help. God bless him for his help.

—Mike Schiavone | Buffalo, N.Y.

He has shown what a true Canadian is. He wasn't blinded by the glory of reaching the summit...but a real challenge came ahead of him to take a decision. The path he has taken has led to a higher summit than what he intended. Canada should be proud of him.

—Vishi Wijesinghe | Lethbridge, Alta.

Thank you Andrew Brash! My family engaged in a rather emotional debate last night over the dinner table with my teen aged sons regarding the events which led to the death of the English climber last week. I like to think that we all would have stopped short of the summit to help.

I am deeply grateful to know that there are still human beings in the world who put the life of another ahead of their own personal victories. Andrew Brash, you are a true hero, and I dare say that far more people will know your greatness because of your sacrifice for another than would have cared about your victory over a large chunk of rock.

—Patricia Kidd | Victoria

I wish there was a way to congratulate Andrew Brash from Calgary from canceling his climb to Everest and rescuing the stranded Australian. It feels so good to know that there is proof that saving a human life is possible and is more important than reaching Everest's peak.

What a big contrast to what Mark Inglis said about disregarding a dying man AND carrying on to the top. This proves him wrong.

—Salvador Valencia | Victoria

I would like to say congratulations to the Canadian climber who stopped and helped save a man's life rather than continue on to reach the summit of Everest.

In my books, he is twice the person of those who would have continued on and his accomplishment ten times as significant. What a great story.

—Amanda Cliff | Inuvik, N.W.T.

This guy should be made a Canadian Hero. What a great example for our youth to know that winning isn't everything. There are still people out there that can make the right choice when tested. What a great good news story. He climbed life's Everest as far as I'm concerned.

—Gail McGrath | Burnaby, B.C.

Andrew Brash has absolutely reached the summit - in personal integrity and altruism.

That is the ultimate goal in this life, and he is on top. Those climbers who got to the top by climbing over the bodies of their fellow man have achieved nothing. They live pointless lives.

—Dianne Brissette | New Westminster, B.C.

Andrew Brash is my hero! One more reason I am proud to be a Canadian because of his selfish act. His actions mean more to me than if he had actually reached the summit.

—Aedes Scheer | Dawson City, Yukon

The real story here is that mountaineering is a pointless, suicidal self-indulgence. Mountainsides are littered with corpses. It's time to ban this irresponsible and foolhardy activity once and for all.

—Robin Gaison | Edmonton

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