Inspirational mountaineer dies aged 93

VIENNA - Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, whose life was portrayed in his book and the film Seven Years in Tibet, died yesterday aged 93.

He was the first person to climb the north face of Switzerland's Eiger mountain in 1938, but won world renown after his book, the film version of which was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and starred Brad Pitt.

Harrer was taken prisoner by British forces in 1944 during an expedition in the Himalayas but escaped and fled over the mountain range to Tibet.

He struck up a close friendship with the Dalai Lama when staying at the Tibetan capital of Lhasa from 1946 to 1951, before China annexed the country.

Following media reports, Harrer admitted in the 1990s he had been a member of the Nazi Party.

Harrer was admitted to hospital three days ago in Friesach in southern Austria.

- REUTERS