'They tried to kill us': British photographer among trio of climbers attacked by 'out-of-control mob' of Sherpas in terrifying ordeal near summit of Everest

European climbers have been involved in a fierce fight with Sherpas

Incident happened at 7,000m, close to Camp 3 and the 8,848m summit

British photographer Jonathan Griffith said to have been injured

Mr Griffith was scaling peak with a Swiss and an Italian climber

Nepal's Tourism Ministry said it will ensure climbers' safety and security

A British climber told yesterday how he and two colleagues feared they would be killed as they were attacked by Sherpas on Everest.

Jonathan Griffith said they were punched, kicked and had stones thrown at them by up to 150 Sherpas in an extraordinary confrontation as they headed towards the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

The three men ended up running for their lives down a treacherous glacier to escape the ‘out-of-control mob’ and have now been forced to abandon their attempt on the summit.

Targets: Ueli Steck, left, Jonathan Griffith (centre) and Simone Moro say they were attacked by a 'mob' of sherpas

'Brawl': British Alpine photographer Jonathan Griffith (right) was accompanying Swiss climber Ueli Steck (left) and Italian Simone Moro to document their Everest ascent

'Fierce': The row erupted as the British photographer and his two fellow climbers made their way from Camp 2 to a tent higher up the mountain on Saturday

The row broke out on Saturday as the men were on their way to a camp at 23,000 feet on the 29,000ft mountain.

The Nepalese Sherpas accused them of kicking ice down on them and breaking mountain etiquette by stepping over their ropes.

Mr Griffith, 29, a photographer and mountaineer attempting his first ascent of Everest, and his highly experienced colleagues – Italian Simone Moro, 45, and Swiss national Ueli Steck, 36 – returned to camp where they were immediately set upon.

Experienced: Swiss mountaineer Ueli Steck is understood to have scaled many of the world's most treacherous peaks

‘An angry mob of between 100 and 150 Sherpas came up to our tent,’ said Mr Griffith. ‘We all suffered cuts and bruises and Ueli took a stone to his face.

‘It was very scary. As climbers we all get into very dangerous situations but this was the first time I really thought this was the end.



‘We were told one of us would die that night and the rest would follow later.’

He said they had initially ignored advice by other Western climbers to ‘just run now’ as the mob headed for their tent.

‘We thought we could discuss the situation and sort it out,’ he said.

‘Sherpas are not angry people but they are easily rallied and three or four ringleaders were to blame.’

He said the crowd attacked in small groups, moving in and throwing rocks before retreating.

‘We couldn’t lash back because the mob would have gone for us then. We honestly felt we were going to die.’

Mr Griffith said they were saved by other Western climbers who acted as a buffer and put themselves in front of the three men.

He singled out the bravery of American guide Melissa Arnot, who stood guard over another tent while the three climbers managed to get to some 50 yards away. ‘For a Sherpa to hit a woman is really bad and Melissa saved our lives,’ he said.

As tempers began to calm slightly it became clear the men would have to escape and retreat to base camp immediately.

Simone Moro: The Italian climber, who has climbed Everest four times, is understood to have been attempting to reach the summit by a new route without supplementary oxygen

'Mass attack': A statement released by the climbers said they believed the incident was an uprising against the way Nepalis feel treated by westerners on Everest (file photo)

They packed up what equipment they could and, to avoid further attacks from the Sherpas, set off on an ‘unbelievably treacherous route’ across a glacier, going as fast as possible without even using a rope for safety.

The men did what is usually a full day’s walk in two-and-a-half hours.



Mr Griffith said last night from base camp that he was preparing to return to Chamonix in France, where he lives.

Although climbing Everest was once the ultimate human challenge, these days hundreds of people pay tens of thousands of pounds to make the ascent every year. The small army of Sherpas are used to help them and carry supplies.

'Terrifying': British mountaineering photographer Jonathan Griffith is reported to have been accompanying Steck and Moro on the ascent

It is the ‘clash of cultures’ and ‘ill feeling’ towards the foreigners that is being blamed for the unprecedented attack.

Foreign climbers pay royalties to scale Everest and Nepalese government officials were quick to play down the seriousness of the incident for fear of losing vital income.

Tourism ministry official Dipendra Paudel said there had been a ‘slight misunderstanding’ which had been sorted out and pledged to ensure the safety of climbers.

About 4,000 climbers have reached the top of Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.