The ASKfm social network, which recently integrated into its crypto currency system, decided to place a wallet with the project's tokens on top of Mount Everest in the framework of the ICO promotion campaign. However, the climb ended tragically - one of the guides accompanying the team disappeared. The project team reported this in an official statement.
The expedition was also attended by four non-project enthusiasts, each accompanied by a local guide of Nepalese Sherpas.
When the ASKfm team reached the top along with the three escorts, they had to start the return descent almost immediately, because of sharply worsened weather. However, the guides were a little behind the group of climbers.
"Going down without accompanying people, the team stumbled upon a Chinese mountaineer Seyber Liu, who was in critical condition: he had no eye protection, an oxygen cylinder and one glove," ASKfm said in a statement.
When Liu returned to the camp with the help of the project team, he told that during the ascent his own guide was exhausted and then he turned to the guide in front of him asking for help. However, after that, Saber Liu broke from the mountain and swept about 50 meters, lost his protective gear, and then continued descent alone, until he met the ASKfm team.
"Two of the three escorts managed to reach the camp together with the ASKfm team, but the next morning it turned out that one of the Sherpas - Lam Babu - disappeared. The last who saw him were two other Sherpas, "the project team noted.
Since more than a week has passed since his disappearance, and the search operation has not yielded results, Lamb Babu is now believed to be dead.
Nevertheless, the ASKfm team constantly sends inquiries to the guide's employer in order to stay informed of the situation.