The search for Irishman Seamus Lawless who had been missing since falling on Mount Everest last week has been called off, his family have confirmed.

The Trinity College professor fell during his descent from the mountain at an altitude of 8,300 metres, in an area known as the balcony near the summit.

He had reached the summit earlier that morning.

Search efforts had been hampered by poor weather in the area in which the 39-year-old fell.

In a statement his family said that based on expert advice they had decided to stand down the search due to treacherous conditions.

The family thanked everyone who had donated to the GoFundMe campaign which had been set up to fund the search.

"The GoFundMe campaign was instrumental in helping us fund an experienced search team for Shay. Unfortunately it was not successful.

"While the experienced search team has made every effort to locate Shay, the extremes of operating at high altitude and the sheer range of the search area ultimately proved too difficult and based on expert advice we have decided to call off the search rather than risk endangering anyone's life in the treacherous conditions."

A statement from Trinity College Dublin said the university community is deeply saddened to learn that the search for Seamus has been called off.

"While the experienced search team has made every effort to locate Shay, the extremes of operating at high altitude and the sheer range of the search area ultimately proved too difficult and based on expert advice the Lawless family have decided to call off the search rather than risk endangering anyone's life in the treacherous conditions," said the statement.

"We are mourning the loss of one our rising research stars, an inspirational colleague, and a much loved and valued member of our college community. Shay's legacy is enormous. An expert in Information Retrieval, his peer-reviewed publications, his supervision of cutting-edge doctoral research, and his leadership of internationally acclaimed research projects have transformed the boundaries of the discipline.

"As a colleague and as a friend, Shay's enthusiasm, his creativity and his approach to his work was inspirational. In the months ahead we will gather to pay tribute to his remarkable scholarship and his contribution to ADAPT and Trinity College Dublin and it will be an opportunity for friends and colleagues to remember someone who will never be forgotten. We are heartbroken at this news."

Trinity plans to host a memorial service in honour of Mr Lawless in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, a second Irish climber has died while descending Mount Everest in the early hours of this morning.

It has been reported in local media in Nepal and on social media the man died after he turned back during the climb and before reaching the summit.