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.

Speaking from their east Cleveland home, Mrs Sharp said: "Russell took it upon himself to find out who he (David) was and to ring to let us know.

"He wanted to make sure we knew what had happened. He rang on Tuesday morning and told us David was dead.

"At that stage, he was still on the mountain."

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."

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: "I can't say how grateful I am to the Sherpa and to Russell."

The location of the body means it is too unsafe to bring it down from the mountain.

But Mr Bryce told Mr and Mrs Sharp that he would try and move the body to a more private spot.

Mrs Sharp said: "Russell, who had no responsibility for David, has taken on a lot to help us and I am deeply grateful to him and his Sherpa for doing it. He has no obligation to do it."

The family, which includes an older brother, Paul, will not be able to hold a funeral without a body.

Mrs Sharp said: "What we plan to do is to have a memorial service, which will be a celebration of his life, and that is going to have to wait until we sort out official paperwork and let friends and family know.

"David wanted to be top of everything and Everest was no exception. It was what he wanted to do.

"Our minister described climbers as having a love affair with the mountains and I think that probably sums it up - it's the same for other youngsters and people that do it.

"Once it gets in to your blood, it's in there.

"David wanted to do what he wanted to do. He was a great son and we will miss him terribly."

Their son was no stranger to mountaineering and challenging treks.

His love of climbing starting during his university engineering course in Nottingham.

He had a break from travelling last year to concentrate on another degree course where he was retraining to become a maths teacher.

He was due to apply for teaching jobs after this last expedition.

"He probably packed as much in at 34 as some people do in a lifetime," said his mother.

A former pupil of Lawrence Jackson School and Prior Pursglove College, both in Guisborough, Mr Sharp had climbed Kilimanjaro, in Africa, Cho Oyu, in Nepal, and spent months backpacking in south-east Asia and South America.

In 2003, Mr Sharp attempted his first climb on Everest - climbing with the Northern Ireland team. Reaching 27,800ft, deteriorating weather conditions forced him back.

He tried again the following year - this time on his own.

But failing to have any oxygen on him, he was again forced back at 27,800ft.

Zone of death - Page 5