A 45-year-old Filipino man named Philipp “PJ” Santiago II sadly passed away while trying to reach the top of the tallest mountain in the world — Mount Everest.
Mount Everest is located in Nepal, a country between China and India. The mountain is very, very high — its peak is 29,031 feet above sea level. That’s taller than 2,000 school buses stacked on top of each other!
🧗 Who Was PJ Santiago?
PJ Santiago was a climber who dreamed of reaching the top of Mount Everest. He was with a team called the Krishnanagar-Snowy Everest Expedition 2025. They were climbing with the help of a local company called Snowy Horizon Treks.
🏕️ What Happened?
PJ and his team were already very high up the mountain and had reached a place called Camp 4, which is about 26,000 feet above sea level. That’s just 3,000 feet away from the summit (the very top of the mountain).
Climbers usually rest at Camp 4 before making their final push to the summit. But after arriving at Camp 4 late at night on May 14, something went wrong, and PJ suddenly passed away.
The people in charge said they don’t know yet what caused his death, and they are working hard to bring his body back down to the base camp so it can be returned home.
🧑🤝🧑 What About the Other Climbers?
The same report also said that two Sherpa guides — local mountain helpers who assist climbers — also got very sick earlier at the Everest base camp. They were taken to a hospital, but sadly, they also passed away while getting medical help.
🕯️ Why This Is Important
Climbing Mount Everest is a very big challenge. It takes bravery, training, and months of preparation. But it can also be very dangerous because of the cold weather, lack of oxygen, and high altitude.
PJ Santiago was the first foreign climber to pass away during this year’s Everest climbing season, according to Nepal’s Department of Tourism.
🇵🇭 A Message of Respect
PJ Santiago was a brave Filipino who followed his dream. Even though he didn’t make it to the top, he showed great courage by trying something many people would never dare to do.
Let’s remember him with respect, pride, and prayers for his family and the people who were with him. 🙏
