Kanchha Sherpa

Kanchha Sherpa (also spelled Kancha Sherpa; 1932 – 16 October 2025) born Ang Phurba was a Nepali mountaineer and high-altitude porter, best known as the last surviving member of the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition, which achieved the first successful ascent of the world's highest peak. He was among the Sherpas who supported Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay during their historic climb.

Early life Kanchha Sherpa was born in 1932 in Namche Bazaar, a Sherpa village in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal. His family originated from Thame, and his father worked as a porter on trade routes between Solukhumbu and Tibet. His birth name was Ang Phurba, but his mother had always called him ‘Kanchha’.

As a teenager, Kanchha went to Darjeeling, India, in search of work. There he met Tenzing Norgay, who recognised him as the son of a fellow mountaineer from an earlier expedition. Norgay helped him join the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition as one of the 103 Sherpas employed by the team, earning five rupees a day.

1953 British Mount Everest Expedition At the age of 19, Kanchha Sherpa joined the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition led by John Hunt, as one of the 103 Sherpas employed by the team, earning five rupees a day.

Although he did not reach the summit, Kanchha played a role in carrying supplies up to the South Col, reaching altitudes above 8,000 metres (26,000 ft). He was one of only three Sherpas to make it to the expedition’s highest camps. His autobiography, Tough and Cheerful, was published in 2022.

Kanchha Sherpa died on 16 October 2025 at his home in Kapan, Kathmandu, aged 92. According to family members, he had been suffering from throat problems in his final months. His death was widely mourned across Nepal’s mountaineering community. The Nepal Mountaineering Association described him as “a legend and an inspiration” and called for state recognition of his contributions. He was survived by his wife, Ang Lhakpa Sherpa, four sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.