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Hillary disgusted at sale of photographs of dead Everest pioneer

Mountaineering hero Sir Edmund Hillary today said he is disgusted that pictures of George Mallory's body have been sold to the media.

Mallory and his climbing companion, Andrew Irvine, died on Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, in 1924 -- 29 years before Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered the peak.

Mallory's body was found earlier this month about 800 feet below the summit, fueling speculation he reached the peak before Hillary and Norgay did.

Pictures of Mallory's bleached body lying face down in the rocks have been published in Newsweek magazine and in newspapers in Australia, Britain and New Zealand.

Hillary said Mallory had been dead for 75 years and did not deserve the indignity of having a photograph of his body published.

"Some media don't really have too much concern about what they published, but I am even more critical of the fact that the expedition members should flog off the photograph of this heroic figure."

"Distinguished mountaineers around the world have expressed the same feeling,'' he said.

Hillary said Mallory pioneered interest in Mount Everest and he did not like the idea of his body being exposed so the photograph could be taken. "They were strong, brave men and they put in a terrific effort. Their remains should be left in peace.''

He said he believed an ascent of Mount Everest could only be described as a success if the climber returned alive. "Despite that it was a very remarkable effort by Mallory even to get as high as they did, and we don't know where that was,'' he said.

"He was the pioneer. He was the person who really inspired all the interest in Mount Everest and encouraged expeditions to go there in the early days and that means he was an inspirational character as far as Everest was concerned,'' Hillary, a former New Zealand high commissioner to India, said.

"If the search team that found Mallory's body also found his camera with photographic proof he reached the top in 1924, it would show what a remarkable man Mallory was," Hillary said.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT/INTERVIEW:
Hillary ready to share credit with Mallory
'Sir Edmund is right when he says there has to be proof that Mallory and Irvine reached the summit before him'

EXTERNAL LINKS:
Mountainzone.com
Mallory's Body Found on Everest
Lost on Everest

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