3 Died Climbing Mountain Everest n 30 Falls Sick

Lecturer Maria Strydom, from Melbourne, Australia, was reported to have died from altitude sickness.

Dutchman Eric Arnold, 35, died on Friday and Indian climber Subhash Paul died overnight on Sunday as he was being helped down the 8,850 metre-high mountain by Sherpa guides

The three climbers have died during a weekend when 30 people fell sick while trying to climb Mount Everest.

Among them was a woman who was attempting to prove that vegans can succeed at the toughest physical challenges.

Two other Indian members of Mr Paul's team - Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh - are missing.

Academic Dr Strydom, who also uses the name Marisa, was an experienced mountaineer who had previously reached the summits of Argentina's Aconcagua and Mount Kilimanjaro.

She was attempting to mount the highest seven peaks on each of the seven continents in order to disprove claims that people who consume no animal products struggle with extreme activities.

Dr Strydom told the website of Monash University, where she works: "It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak.

"By climbing the seven summits we want to prove that vegans can do anything and more."

Her husband, Robert Gropel, also a vegan, was among those who fell ill on the mountain and had to be airlifted off the mountain. 

Everest reopened last August after it was closed by the Nepali authorities following two devastating years when 18 people were killed during Nepal's earthquake and 16 Sherpas died in 2014.