Sir Ed Hillary - the conqueror of Everest - he died today - RIP ...

The conqueror of Mount Everest has died. The giant of the forest has fallen!

New Zealand mourns the death of Sir Edmund Hillary, arguably the greatest New Zealander in living memory; he died today of a heart attack at Auckland Hospital after a long illness. He was 88 years old.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to climb Mount Everest, in 1953, accompanied by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. He is also a living legend in Nepal where he set up a trust in the 1960's to build hospitals and schools in the kingdom.

He has been described as an inspiration to millions. He was the first New Zealander to appear on New Zealand currency. He will appear on a new $5.00 note here.

He was originally a beekeeper in the North Island and reportedly financed his mountaineering trips from that activity. He started his climbing in NZ of Mount Cook and then overseas to Nepal.

Sir Ed's exploits overshadowed the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second in 1953, and for his comments on radio of " I knocked the bastard off !" He was also well known for his adventuring activities in Antarctica where he transversed the continent in a tractor.

His legacy will live on. His exploits were classic 'boys own' and will continue to inspire generations of New Zealanders to come. He is almost venerated by Nepalese of his generation.


He will be honoured with a state funeral, normally reserved for prime ministers who have died in office, or former governors general. His honour is for a national icon who died in office.He is also a former ambassador to India.

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Stingrays not so harmless down under in New Zealand....

We keep reading about these sea creatures who have attacked a number of humans, some fatally over the years.

The latest occurred in recent days in New Zealand. A Dannevirke, North Island, man in his 40's was dragging a net at Herbertville Beach in the southern Hawkes Bay, when he was attacked.

One of the stings went into one side of his leg and out the other, breaking off the barb.

He was treated at the scene by ambulance officers and then taken by rescue helicopter to Palmerston North hospital. An ambulance spokesman said he had been in considerable pain.

It is well over a year since since Australian television celebrity and iconic crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, was fatally stabbed in the heart by a stingray barb.

His death was similar to that of an 18 year old New Zealand woman in 1939, who was at first believed to have been a victim of a sexual attack, but a post mortem later discovered that her heart wounds were caused by a stingray barb.


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