MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — David Breashears, a mountaineer, author and filmmaker who co-directed and co-produced a 1998 IMAX documentary about climbing Mount Everest, has died, his business manager confirmed Saturday. He was 68.
Breashears was found unresponsive at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts, on Thursday, Ellen Golbranson said. She said he died of natural causes but “the exact cause of death remains unknown at this time.”
Breashears summited Mount Everest five times, including with the IMAX camera in 1996, his family said.
“He combined his passion for climbing and photography to become one of the world’s most admired adventure filmmakers,” the family said in a written statement.
In 2007, Breashears founded GlacierWorks, which describes itself on Facebook as a nonprofit organization that “highlights changes to Himalayan glaciers through art, science, and adventure.”
“With GlacierWorks, he used his climbing and photography experience to create unique records revealing the dramatic effects of climate change on the historic mountain range,” his family said.
In 1983, Breashears transmitted the first live television pictures from the summit of Everest, according to his website, which also says that in 1985 he became the first U.S. citizen to reach the summit twice.
Breashears and his team were filming the Everest documentary when the May 10, 1996, blizzard struck the mountain, killing eight climbers. He and his team stopped filming to help the climbers.
David Breashears, a renowned mountaineer and co-producer of the iconic Mount Everest documentary “Everest,” has passed away at the age of 68. Breashears was a pioneer in the world of mountaineering and documentary filmmaking, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of adventurers.
Breashears was born on October 20, 1955, in Boston, Massachusetts. He developed a passion for climbing at a young age and went on to become one of the most accomplished mountaineers of his time. He made multiple ascents of Mount Everest, including reaching the summit five times, and was known for his expertise in high-altitude cinematography.
In 1996, Breashears co-produced the documentary “Everest,” which chronicled the tragic events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster that claimed the lives of eight climbers. The film received critical acclaim and brought widespread attention to the dangers and challenges of high-altitude mountaineering.
Throughout his career, Breashears was committed to promoting environmental conservation and raising awareness about the impact of climate change on the world’s highest peaks. He founded the non-profit organization GlacierWorks, which uses photography and multimedia to document the changes in glaciers around the world.
Breashears was also a dedicated advocate for the Sherpa community in Nepal, working to improve their living conditions and ensure fair treatment for the local guides and porters who support climbers on their expeditions.
In addition to his mountaineering and filmmaking accomplishments, Breashears was a talented photographer and author, capturing stunning images of the world’s most remote and challenging landscapes.
His passing is a great loss to the mountaineering community and the world of documentary filmmaking. Breashears will be remembered as a fearless explorer, a visionary filmmaker, and a passionate advocate for the preservation of our planet’s most precious natural resources.
As we mourn the loss of David Breashears, we can take comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through his groundbreaking work and the countless lives he touched with his passion for adventure and environmental stewardship. May his spirit continue to inspire us to reach new heights and protect the beauty of our planet for future generations.
