Edmund Hillary, the unassuming New Zealander who won world fame as the first man to climb Mount Everest, died Friday at the age of 88.
Hillary, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of the world's highest mountain on May 29, 1953, died of a heart attack in Auckland Hospital following a period of bad health, the hospital said in a statement.
Tributes poured in after the passing of one of the world's great adventurers and New Zealand's most famous citizen, who was knighted soon after his historic feat.
"Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus," Prime Minister Helen Clark said in a statement.
"He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity," she said.
News of the success of the British-led expedition to the top of the 8,848-metre (29,028-foot) mountain was announced on the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation on June 2, 1953, magnifying the patriotic fervour in both Britain and former colony New Zealand.
Returning to base camp after the climb, the lanky adventurer greeted friend and expedition colleague George Lowe with his most famous words.
"George said 'Well how did it go?' and I said, 'Well George, we knocked the bastard off,'" Hillary recalled in a later autobiography.
After Everest, Hillary embarked on another great adventure in 1957, establishing New Zealand's Scott Base in Antarctica and leading the first vehicles overland to the South Pole.
The former beekeeper was the only living New Zealander ever to appear on the country's currency, a national and worldwide hero who used his fame to help the people of Nepal rather than enrich himself.
The former beekeeper was the only living New Zealander ever to appear on the country's currency, a national and worldwide hero who used his fame to help the people of Nepal rather than enrich himself.
In the 1960s he set up the Himalaya Trust to support development for the Sherpa people of the Himalayas, building schools and hospitals.
His fame in the sub-continent led to his being named as New Zealand high commissioner (ambassador) to India in 1984.
Characteristically, Hillary described himself as a man of modest abilities, but with a strong streak of determination.
Alexa Johnston, who wrote "Sir Edmund Hillary -- An Extraordinary Life," said Hillary was complex but his defining characteristics were incredible persistence and generosity to others.
"He's hard on himself and he can demand a lot from people but he is also not vindictive and he is able to forgive people if they don't measure up," Johnston said.
Clark said the passing of Hillary was a profound loss for New Zealand.
"The legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary will live on. His exploits continue to inspire new generations of New Zealanders, as they have for more than half a century already," Clark said.
"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived.
"But most of all he was a quintessential Kiwi. He was ours -- from his craggy appearance and laconic style to his directness and honesty."
Australia's acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australians would also mourn Hillary's passing.
"People always looked at him as a man of achievement and I think people today will mark his passing with regret," she told Sky News.
"Sir Edmund's name is synonymous with adventure, with achievement, with dreaming and then making those dreams come true," Gillard said.
Agence France-Presse - 1/11/2008
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