Edmund Hillary, the modest New Zealand beekeeper who shot to global fame as the first person to climb Mount Everest, died Friday at age 88. A hero to millions for his derring-do, dry wit and dedication to others - he spent much of his life working to help the people of Nepal - Hillary had a heart attack after a spell of bad health, Auckland Hospital said.
The lanky, plain-speaking Kiwi made history on May 29, 1953, when he and Nepalese guide Sherpa Tenzing Norgay made it to the top of the world's tallest mountain, a feat that had defied mountaineers for decades.
On the way back down, Hillary lifted his mask and uttered what would become one of the most famous phrases in the annals of climbing: "Well, we knocked the bastard off." Tributes quickly poured in for the legendary adventurer and philanthropist, who also led the first expedition to reach the South Pole by vehicle just four years after conquering Everest.
"Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus," Prime Minister Helen Clark said. "He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity."
She called him a "quintessential Kiwi" and "the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived." Hillary was always modest about his achievement, and it was many years before Tenzing revealed that Hillary had actually been first to reach the peak. They said at the time that they had reached the top together.
"The names of Hillary and Tenzing went instantly into all languages as the names of heroes," Jan Morris, the British historian and journalist who accompanied their expedition, wrote in Time magazine.
News of the success of the British-led expedition to the top of the 8,848-metre (29,028-foot) mountain was announced on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2, 1953. She awarded Hillary a knighthood, which he greeted with characteristic self-effacement.
In 1960 he led another Himalayan adventure, this time in search of proof of the mythical yeti or abominable snowman - a topic of great interest since Tenzing had said his father had twice seen one. Among the Sherpa community, tales of the yeti were common but Hillary had no success. He got sick mid-way through the expedition - possibly due to some uncertain fishcakes - and pulled out.
Prime Minister Clark said the death of Hillary - who was the only living New Zealander ever to appear on the country's currency - was a profound loss for the country, where flags were lowered to half-mast nation-wide.
A state funeral is being planned, and New Zealand's cricket team will wear black arm bands and observe a minute's silence at the start of their Test match against Bangladesh in Wellington on Saturday.