Erhard Loretan Swiss mountaineer Date of Birth: 28.04.1959 Country: Switzerland

1. Early Life and Mountaineering Career
2. Himalayan Ascents and 14 Eight-Thousanders
3. Record-Breaking Everest Ascent
4. Tragedy and the Shaken Baby Syndrome
5. Untimely Death in the Swiss Alps

Early Life and Mountaineering Career

Erhard Loretan, born in 1959 in the Swiss canton of Fribourg, began climbing at the tender age of 11. By 15, he had conquered his first 3,000-meter peak, the Doldenhorn. His passion for mountaineering led him to pursue a certification as a mountain guide in 1981.

Himalayan Ascents and 14 Eight-Thousanders

In 1982, Loretan embarked on a 13-year quest to summit all 14 eight-thousanders, mountains that rise above 8,000 meters. He became the third person to achieve this feat in 1995, after Reinhold Messner and Jerzy Kukuczka. Loretan's expeditions were notable for his use of minimal gear, oxygen, and provision supplies, earning him the reputation of an ascetic climber.

Record-Breaking Everest Ascent

In 1986, Loretan and Jean Troillet made a record-breaking ascent of Mount Everest in just 43 hours without overnight stays or oxygen. This extraordinary feat solidified their place in the annals of mountaineering.

Tragedy and the Shaken Baby Syndrome

Loretan's personal life was marred by tragedy when he was accused of shaking his seven-month-old son to death in 2003. The incident raised awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), and Loretan chose to publicly share his name to warn other parents. He received a four-month suspended sentence.

Untimely Death in the Swiss Alps

On April 28, 2011, on his 52nd birthday, Loretan met an untimely end while climbing the Grünhorn in the Swiss Alps. He and his client fell from a ridge at 3,800 meters. The woman survived with severe injuries, but Loretan lost his life. His death remains a tragic reminder of the ever-present dangers in mountaineering.