A CLIMBER from the North-East has frozen to death hours after realising his ambition to conquer Mount Everest.

Several other mountaineers reported seeing the stricken figure of David Sharp trying to work on his oxygen system - but were powerless to help.

Last night, his family praised the actions of a Sherpa who risked his life to check on the 34-year-old.

He was found in a rock cave, close to one of the main routes, lying next to the body of an Indian climber who perished in similar circumstances in 1997.

The experienced mountaineer, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, was climbing alone - his third attempt on the 29,028ft mountain.

This time, the former engineer reached the summit and had descended more than 1,000ft when he got into trouble.

Other climbers said they saw Mr Sharp in various states - standing, walking, and lying on the ground.

The exact date of his death is not known, but on Tuesday a fellow climber called his parents, Linda and John, to break the news.

Russell Bryce, who runs an expedition outfit, told them his Sherpa had tried to assist Mr Sharp, but he was beyond help.

Mr Sharp left home on March 27, flying from Heathrow the next day. He used a trekking company to travel through Nepal and Tibet, until he reached base camp. From there, he climbed alone.

"I hated the idea of this - that he was alone," said his mother.

"But he told me 'you are never on your own - there are climbers everywhere'.

"He was climbing on his own and not part of a team, but he would be speaking to other people. They would have got to know each other."

Details of exactly what happened are still unclear.

"We have to try to piece it together. The truth is we don't know what the truth is," said his mother.

John Sharp said: "We believe he has climbed Everest, that he was on his way down and ran out of oxygen."

Mrs Sharp added: "David had been noticed in a shelter. People had seen him but thought he was dead.

"One of Russell's Sherpas checked on him and there was still life there. He tried to give him oxygen, but it was too late.

"Your only responsibility is to save yourself - not to try and save anyone else."

She added of her son: "He probably packed as much in at 34 as some people do in a lifetime."

Zone of death - Page 5