Adventurer, mountain climber and charity fundraiser Ian McKeever (left). Image via Ian McKeever's Kilimanjaro Achievers 2012 Facebook page
Tributes have been flooding social media sites in honour of well-known adventurer, mountain climber and charity fundraiser Ian McKeever from Co Wicklow, who was killed yesterday after being struck by lightning on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
McKeever (42), from Lough Dan, had been leading an expedition to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro when bad weather descended upon the group.
News of his death was confirmed on his Facebook page, Ian McKeever’s Kilimanjaro Achievers 2012 with the message, “It is with deep regret, that we, Ian’s family, fiancée Anna and friends, advise of his sudden death on Kilimanjaro, today, doing what he loved best.”
McKeever accomplished a lot throughout his life. Among his feats are breaking the world record for climbing the highest summit on each of the seven continents in 2007 and the next year he attempted to row the South Atlantic Ocean in less than 30 days. The boat lost its rudder, however, and McKeever and his team were forced to postpone the attempt.
McKeever was also the author of the books Give Me Shelter and Give Me Heroes, and he had been working on a third book, Give Me 28 Days.
On Facebook and Twitter, where his name has been trending, McKeever is being remembered as an inspiration to young people.
Responses to the Facebook post about his death include:
Reaction on Twitter also honours McKeever:
