A 45-year-old man, Alexzander Kueh Check Boo, died after climbing Mount Kinabalu yesterday, due to suspected acute mountain sickness

A 45-year-old man died after climbing Mount Kinabalu yesterday, due to suspected acute mountain sickness.

Alexzander Kueh Check Boo was scaling the mountain with his 35-year-old wife, Ng Wee Peo. They successfully reached the base camp at Panalaban on Monday.

However, Ng began suffering from a headache and breathing difficulties at around 9pm.

Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Christina Liew says the Mountain Search and Rescue Team gave her oxygen and rescuers later carried her down the mountain on a stretcher.

Kueh, who was accompanying his wife as she was being carried down, began experiencing breathing difficulties himself when he was about 2km away from the entrance of the climbing trail at Timpohon Gate.

Liew says he was then carried on a stretcher for the rest of the way. The two were sent to Ranau Hospital, where Kueh was pronounced dead at 4.30am.

Liew notes that based on the symptoms, acute mountain sickness is believed to be the cause of his death.

She says Ng recovered from AMS and is in stable condition. She adds that Sabah Parks has been instructed to assist the couple’s families when necessary.

She also advises climbers to ensure they are prepared mentally and physically before attempting to climb Mount Kinabalu.