24 October 2023 , 11:53
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Tributes have been paid to a British climber who died on a hiking trip on one of Africa's highest peaks as she was named as a mum from London.
'Beautiful soul' Shilpa Shah was tragically killed on Thursday after slipping on ice on Mount Kenya, Kenya, while on the descent from the summit. Her guide, Kevin Muriuki Mwithi, also died after he heroically tried to grab her as she slipped, but was pulled with her down the mountain face.
The 60-year-old mum-of-one is understood to have been in an all-female group on her way down from the mountain's third highest peak, Point Lenana, on Thursday when she slipped. The Sun reports both Ms Shah and Mr Mwithi fell several hundred metres in the tragedy.
The tour group had been on the way down on a popular route during wet conditions when Ms Shah fell somewhere between Lenana and the Austrian Hut on the Naro Moru route. Both were reportedly recovered by rescue teams the following day following two previous attempts during bad weather, before being flown to capital Nairobi.
The group had scaled the mountain's Lenana Peak (left) and were on their way down when Ms Shah slipped on ice (Getty Images)Ms Shah was described as a "beautiful soul with a radiant smile" who "never failed to put the family at ease" in a public tribute page. The memorial said: "She gave everything to all without expecting anything in return and will be deeply missed. She enjoyed the great outdoors and was an inspiration to all her family and friends. Shilpa was one of a kind, whose passing will leave an everlasting hole in our lives. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her."
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Mr Mwithi was described as a "selfless" dad and "renowned" guide who "dedicated life to the service of humanity". Writing in a post, friend Robert Kamaru said: "My friend has rested. Our hearts are broken."
He added: "Kevin, a renowned Mount Kenya guide, passed away on 10.20 while assisting a hiker on a slippery slope. Both slid down the ridge and perished. The hiker is identified as Shilpa Shah, a UK national.
"Our prayers go out to both families during this difficult time of mourning and beyond. Kevin leaves behind a young family (wife and toddler). We are joining hands to support the family in various ways."
At 5,199m above sea level, Mount Kenya is Aftrica's second-highest mountain after Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, and is scaled by around 15,000 people a year. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Kenya and are in contact with local authorities’.