KATHMANDU: A climber from the Czech Republic died while attempting to scale Mt Makalu II, also known as Kangchung Tse, in Sankhuwasabha district, expedition officials said.

Pemba Jangbu Sherpa, managing director at I AM Treks and Expedition, confirmed that David Roubinek, 38, died while heading for a summit push yesterday.

The climber was part of an expedition led by Lukas Madr, 23, and locally managed by I AM Treks and Expedition. “The climber breathed his last when he was being brought down from Camp III after suffering from high altitude pulmonary edema,” officials said.

Four climbers, including David, reached Camp III to begin the summit push. “Once they stayed a night there, David was taken ill. Fellow climbers helped to bring him down from 7,400 m after abandoning their summit push,” Sherpa said, adding that David died at around 7,200 m, below Camp III.

Team leader Lukas and two other climbers had already given up their climb. “But four of them decided to continue,” Sherpa shared.

The seven‑member team headed for the Makalu region to scale the 7,678‑metre peak in an alpine style, without guide support. The team members include Jana Vankova from Slovakia, and David, Josef Vojtech, Marek Blahuta, Petr Kadanka, and Martin Ksandr from the Czech Republic.

Efforts are underway to recover his body, said the expedition organiser.

Kangchung Tse, though technically a subsidiary summit of the Makalu massif, is a fascinating standalone peak and sees very rare traffic, adding to its appeal for climbers seeking something beyond the established high‑altitude circuits.