KATHMANDU: Renowned Italian alpinist and helicopter pilot Simone Moro is currently in Kathmandu undergoing medical examinations and is in stable condition, according to a statement released by his team on social media.

In a post shared earlier today, Moro’s team said the climber experienced severe physical discomfort during a hike after summiting and descending Mera Peak (6,476m). Following a live video consultation with his trusted doctors in Italy, an immediate medical transfer was advised.

The statement, translated from Italian, said that as the incident occurred late in the day, Moro could not be evacuated the same evening and was instead flown to Kathmandu the following day for further medical evaluation. The team said he is in good spirits and remains under medical supervision while undergoing thorough examinations.

Earlier, it was reported that Moro suffered a heart attack at Khare (5,045m) while returning from an acclimatisation climb of Mera Peak in the Everest region. He was airlifted by a Fishtail Helicopter and admitted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, where he reportedly underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Hospital sources had said his condition was stable.

Moro was in the Mera Peak region along with Nima Rinji Sherpa, the world’s youngest climber to summit all 14 eight-thousanders, and Polish photographer Oswald Rodrigo Pereira, as part of acclimatisation for a planned winter ascent of Manaslu (8,163m) without supplemental oxygen or Sherpa support.

On December 11, Moro and Nima Rinji left High Camp at 7:30 am and reached the summit of Mera Peak at 9:50 am, completing the climb in two hours and 20 minutes. Pereira summited solo the following day.

Born on October 27, 1967, Simone Moro is among the world’s most accomplished alpinists, having made four first winter ascents of 8,000-metre peaks—Shishapangma, Makalu, Gasherbrum II and Nanga Parbat. He has summited Mt Everest four times and has visited Nepal more than 110 times.