On Thursday (25 May), anesthesiologist Pieter Swart, who worked at UBC and Vancouver General Hospitals, died while traveling the world.
Swart, a native Vancouverite, tragically perished en route to the summit of Everest. The staff and students at the UBC Medical School are grieving the sudden loss of Dr. Pieter Swart.
The Department of Anesthesia at UBC issued a statement following the loss of their colleague.
Swart is fondly recalled by his wife and two adult children as a kind and kind doctor.
Dr. Pieter Swart of UBC Has Passed Away
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On May 25, 2023, Pieter Swart, an anesthesiologist and associate professor at the UBC Medical School, passed away.
It has been claimed that the doctor passed away while valiantly attempting to achieve his longtime goal of reaching the summit of Mount Everest. The sudden loss of Dr. Swart has devastated his colleagues, family, and friends.
According to a statement released by the UBC’s anesthesiology department, Pieter Swart died while making his way down from Camp IV, the highest camp below the summit.
Professors were informed of Peter’s death on Friday via an online post by his colleague, Dr. Hamed Umedaly, who wrote, “Peter was lost to us while bravely chasing his dream of being at the top of Mount Everest since he was nine years old.”
“Pieter had an insatiable wanderlust,” the distraught coworker continued.
The government of Nepal has also acknowledged Swart’s passing. Canadian citizenship was confirmed for the doctor who fell ill at an altitude of 8,000 meters, known as the “death zone,” where oxygen levels are too low to support human life for more than a few minutes without the use of supplementary oxygen.
On summit day, the doctor woke up feeling ill, as reported by the Vancouver Sun. Then he made the decision to head back to the security of Camp II. There was a chopper waiting for him.
On the journey to Camp IV, however, his condition deteriorated and he became unconscious. There were reports that he had a heart attack.
Pieter reportedly suffered from serious altitude sickness, as reported by the locals. “There are so many confounding factors, but it is the likely case,” Dr. Hamed Umedaly stated.
A coworker of Swart’s also noted that his signs were consistent with high-altitude pulmonary edema.
The death of the UBC anesthesiologist brought the seasonal death toll on Mount Everest to twelve.
Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Pieter Swart Suretha and Children
Suretha, his wife, and their grown children Pieter and Marna are all he has left to mourn his passing. The doctor’s family includes his mother, sister, and brother.
Umedaly says that Swart’s devotion to his loved ones is just one of many outstanding qualities he possesses. As his wife put it, “Everything he did was for his family – except for Everest.”
Swart’s Instagram feed detailed his climb to Everest
The doctor said he was waiting for a weather window at Namche Bazaar in his first post on May 11. He stated that they were entering a critical phase of their journey.
Six days later, Dr. Swart uploaded a photo taken in the Khumbu icefall as his farewell social media post. His caption read, “Perfect day.”
His colleagues described him as a caring physician who enjoyed a good joke and served as an example and inspiration to his students.
He logged 19 years in the medical field between UBC and Vancouver General. Umedaly claims that he has trained and influenced around half of the local anesthesiologists.
According to Umedaly, Swart’s friend and coworker, the mountain may have been Swart’s personal ambition, but he set out on the journey with them in mind.
As of Friday, Swart’s body had not been returned from Nepal. In memory of him, his friends, family, and coworkers will host a memorial service.
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