Posted on 05/26/2011 8:31:11 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
John Delaney, founder and CEO of Intrade, the prediction market, has died while trying to climb Mt. Everest.
He was less than 50 meters from the top, according to the Daily Mail.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/intrade-founder-john-delaney-dies-on-mt-everest-2011-5#ixzz1NWGn2RKK
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
the Irish Independent newspaper today carried a report headlined:
“Widow defends husband’s Everest climb”...... It says that she was aware of criticism of her husband and it was hurtful to the family. She was in full support of John... the man she loved, the adventurer. It goes on to say that they both knew the risks, even of him dying and being left on the mountain. Orla Delaney said “I packed his bags and left him go’ and the child had come sooner than anticipated”. She was proud of John, she knew what he was doing... so any criticism of John would be totally unfounded and would be very hurtful to her. The report also says it was likely Mr. Delaney died of pulmonary edema or cerebral edema — a flooding of the lungs or a swelling of the brain — followed by a heart attackHe was scaling the final leg of the deadly mountain peak when he lost consciousness and collapsed.
Mr Delaney and his wife were married five years ago. He had been mountaineering for several years.. and was attempting to conquer Everest after a failed bid five years ago, reports The Irish Times.
Thanks for your views.
As a military wife I find “giving birth alone”, “leaving his wife” etc....well, boo freaking hoo. Many, many women have given birth “alone”. Fact is, we only need you to be there for the conception!
I’m sure she was fully supportive of this trip and very proud. It’s unfortunate he died but he could have easily died by slipping in the shower on any mundane morning.
The kids can grow up knowing their dad didn’t just sit around waiting for life to happen to him.
Another spoiled Westerner with money and time to burn.
Thanks for contributing to Nepal’s economy, fool.
Repentance - good one. (I hope I don’t forget that one!)
I had a real close call last year and could have easily died. It sure made me think of my priorities - and particular the amount of time I spend with God and my family. And while I try to do better, the intensity I felt for them both wears off. I have always been impressed by folks who have a “come to Jesus” moment and they maintain it to such a high level.
Sadly, John Delaney does not get a second chance. And I may not either. Prayers to his family.
What is wrong with these people? If he had been where he belonged, with his wife and baby he would be alive.
Try 50-60K.
Nothing is more important than your family.
Yup. I read all that. It doesn’t change my opinion. Any man worth his salt knows where his real responsibilities lie, and it isn’t with pursing his own fun at the peril of his family.
Those new frontiers were where the families would live and, they hoped, better their lives. This was simply a risk to say he'd done it. He left his wife and child behind for a personal whim. I wouldn't call that the 'American Way'.
Thanks for that snippet. I have read of previous deaths of folks in risk-taking endeavors (race car drivers, climbers, etc.) And usualy their loved-ones are understanding of it. “Well they died doing what they love...” I am glad that the wife has that peace, and I hope that she sincerely does.
From: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50493.php
“The death rate on Mount Everest has not changed over the years, with about one death for every 10 successful ascents. For anyone who reaches the summit, they have about a 1 in 20 chance of not making it down again. ”
As the article indicates, there are hundreds of bodies climbers pass when they scale Mt. Everest. Delaney’s will be among them.
There’s a difference between risking life on the prairie for a chance at owning your own land and PURSUING A HOBBY.
http://www.evk2cnr.org/WebCams/PyramidOne/everest-webcam.html
Italian webcam at Lobuche. Nice live view of Everest.
So she’s fully supportive of her husband packing off, taking an extreme risk and dying in the process, but those that merely say he made a poor decision are responsible for her grief and pain?
He was not in good enough shape to climb Everest so he is a little bit Darwin Award and a little bit “suicide by mountain”
I have a feeling she’s going to hate Mt. Everest.
As I said above, any man worth his salt knows where his real responsibilities lie, and it isn’t with pursing his own fun at the peril of his family. It doesn’t matter whether he had talked his wife into it. It doesn’t matter that she packed his bag. It doesn’t matter that the child was born early. Priorities matter, and it’s obvious his were with his own pleasure not with being there for his family.
Climbing Everest is high on that list.
You wrote:
“That’s worth dying for.”
I bet he didn’t think so.
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