Friday’s death of a New Jersey man while trying to climb Denali, Alaska’s highest mountain peak, was caused by an attempt to do so.
Stockton’s Fernando Birman, 48 years old, fell at 19,700 feet on Denali in the summit attempt, according to a National Park Service news release. He was only 600 feet from the summit, which is at 20,310 feet.
The park service stated that Birman was not revived by his mountain guides at 5:45 p.m.
Birman was declared dead on the spot.
According to the park service, although the cause of death is not known, it seems consistent with sudden cardiac arrest.
Birman’s guides helped him to recover his body. It was found on the 19,500-foot plateau known by the “Football Field”, officials stated.
Late Friday, his body was taken to the Alaska State Medical Examiner Office.
Denali National Park & Preserve is home to 6 million acres Alaskan wildland. According to the park service, climbing Denali requires a lot of experience and is considered a very serious undertaking.
Birman is the least third climber to die in Denali National Park this season.
