‘Heroic’ British climber, 40, and his guide who went missing on Mount Everest when icefall hit their expedition, are feared dead after ‘extensive’ search near the summit failed to find them

A British climber and his guide who went missing on Everest after being struck by collapsing ice have not been found despite an extensive search, a guide has revealed.

Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, and Pastenji Sherpa, 23, have not been heard from since they reached the summit around 4:40 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

According to Lapka Sherpa, it is now feared the pair died after the ice collapsed and fell on them near the Hillary Step, just below the summit at around 8,800 metres.

The Everest guide said they “heroically” reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain before going missing during the descent.

“Despite extensive search efforts, we regret to confirm that Daniel and Pastenji could not be recovered after the following incident,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Paterson’s partner, Beck Woodhead, has vowed she will do ‘anything’ to bring him home, and yesterday GoFundMe page to raise money for a search and rescue operation.

Daniel Paterson previously said it had always been his dream to ‘conquer’ the summit of Everest. Right in the photo: Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23

Mr Paterson with his partner Beck Woodhead, who has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for a search and rescue operation

The research nurse said that her partner ‘is known for his adventurous spirit, his kindness and his unwavering dedication to helping others,” as she issued a plea, saying, “Now it’s our turn to help him.”

She described him as a passionate Leeds United fan, but also as a ‘beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud co-owner of Wakefield Crossfit.’

The British climber, believed to be from Wakefield, was described by Sherpa Lapka as ‘renowned for his robust fitness, uplifting positivity and strong determination’.

The missing men were part of a 15-person team with 8K Expeditions, led by Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe.

Sherpa Lapka said his colleague Pastenji was a “dedicated climber from his youth, with impressive climbs to his credit, including twice Mount Everest, K2, Amadablam and several other 6,000-metre peaks.”

“His warm spirit, friendliness and outstanding expertise made him one of the best guides at 8K Expeditions,” he added.

Mr Paterson was also a ‘committed’ climber and had trained in the Himalayas last year.

Missing Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, is pictured on May 11 ahead of his climb to the summit

Mr Paterson, known to his friends as ‘Pat’, shared his experiences on Instagram.

He previously said he was emotional when he saw the summit of Everest and told his followers: “My dream will always be to conquer it.”

He dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that members had raised £10,000 for her family.

The fitness enthusiast then posted two weeks ago that he was “impatiently waiting for a window to the top.”

The fitness enthusiast dedicated his climb to a late friend from Wakefield Crossfield Club and recently announced that the group had raised £10,000 for her family

Officials said this week that a spell of calm weather in recent days has brought an influx of climbers to the summit, but it would close by the end of the week.

Home to eight of the world’s fourteen peaks above 8,000 meters (26,246 feet), Nepal welcomes hundreds of adventurers every spring climbing season.

Everest can only be climbed in the short windows of clear weather when the winds are calm.

Since climbers can only reach the summit in small weather conditions, queues can form on the mountain, which significantly increases the risk

This has led to long queues on challenging routes, forcing climbers to wait in freezing temperatures and depleting their valuable oxygen supplies.

Earlier this month, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, went missing on Everest.

The pair, who had not relied on Sherpa guides, were found dead a week later in two different locations after reaching the summit.