The renowned Swiss mountaineer Ueli Steck dies in Everest climbing accident

The famous Swiss mountaineer Ueli Steck died today in a mountaineering accident near Mount Everest in Nepal, according to expedition organizers. He was 40 years old.

Steck died at Camp 1 on Mount Nuptse, explained Mingma Sherpa, of Seven Summit Treks. His body was recovered from the site and taken to Lukla, where the only airport near Everest in the area is located.

"This morning he had an accident on Nuptse and died. It seems he slipped," said Ang Tsering Sherpa, president of the NMA.

Nicknamed "the Swiss machine" due to the furious pace of his ascents, Steck was also known for a series of controversial records and for being at the center of a dispute with sherpas on Everest.

Steck was in the Himalayas in the middle of the acclimatization phase before attempting to conquer the roof of the world in May using a new route.

He is the first fatality of the climbing season in Nepal, which begins in March and ends in May, coinciding with spring. Hundreds of foreign climbers attempt to climb the mountains of the Himalayas in May, when there are some moments of favorable weather.

The Swiss sportsman was one of the most recognized specialists of his generation. He was known for his speed climbing, with which he achieved several records for climbing the north face of the Eiger, a classic summit of mountaineering in the Bernese Alps, in two hours and 47 minutes without using a safety rope.

In 2013, he achieved the first solo ascent of the south face of Annapurna in Nepal, the place where he almost lost his life in 2007 due to a fall. For this feat, he received the "Piolet d'Or" - considered the Oscar of the discipline - the following year.

In 2015, Steck decided to climb the 82 peaks over 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) in the Alps, traveling between them only on foot, by bicycle, or with a paraglider. He completed the task in 62 days, helping to consolidate the reputation of his nickname, "the Swiss machine".

In an interview last month with the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Steck said that he considered himself a "stranger" in the world of mountaineering because for him a sporting achievement was more important than living an adventure.

Asked about his expedition to Everest and Lhotse, which included a fast ascent from one peak to another and spending the night in the "death zone," he said: "When I'm on Everest, I can stop anywhere. Therefore, the risk is quite small. For me, it's fundamentally a physical project, whether I do it or not, I have the strength for the entire journey."

Regarding what would make the expedition a success, Steck told the newspaper: "Of course, I want to climb Everest and Lhotse. But it's a very high goal. Failure for me would be to die and not return home."