KATHMANDU — An American climber tragically passed away on Mount Makalu in eastern Nepal while attempting to raise funds for a children's cancer program, according to officials on Tuesday (May 6). This marks the second fatality in Nepal's climbing season, which began in March. Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain in the world, stands at 8,463 meters, compared to Mount Everest's height of 8,849 meters.

Alexander Pancoe, 39, died on Sunday while settling into his sleeping bag at the mountain's second high camp after returning from an acclimatization trip to the higher third camp. Expedition organizer Madison Mountaineering confirmed that Pancoe "suddenly became unresponsive," and despite hours of resuscitation attempts, he could not be revived.

Nepal's tourism department is coordinating efforts to bring his body to Kathmandu, the capital. Pancoe, who had previously overcome a brain tumor, had completed the Explorer's Grand Slam, climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and skiing to both the North and South Poles. He was also battling chronic myeloid leukemia and had embarked on the Makalu climb to raise funds for the pediatric blood cancer program at Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital. Expedition leader Garrett Madison noted that Pancoe had already raised $1 million for clinical trials and other initiatives at the hospital.

Earlier in April, a Nepali sherpa lost his life on Mount Annapurna, the world’s tenth-highest peak. Nepal, a landlocked country nestled between India and China, is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, including Mount Everest. The country's economy significantly depends on climbing, trekking, and tourism for foreign exchange.