According to his friend Dilip Martin, Ramakrishnan died in Brinchang, Cameron Highlands last night.

He was the first national climber to reach the peak of Annapurna IV in Nepal, and was included as a member of the team that reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. However he did not make the Everest climb because of a frostbite injury from Annapurna.

In later years he was president of the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands, a member of Malaysia International Search and Rescue as well as the Malaysian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.

His teammate, M Magendran, the first Malaysian to reach the summit of Mount Everest, said Ramakrishnan was a dedicated and talented man.

“He was a very experienced trekker and mountaineer. During the pre-expedition training in 1996, around 20 climbers had been separated into two groups, I was in the group to India, he was in the group to Nepal.

“He succeeded in the attempt to become the first and only Malaysian to conquer Annapurna IV in 1996. Unfortunately, he experienced foot injury and frostbite, so he had to receive treatment in Malaysia.

“He finally managed to join us in Kathmandu after getting clearance from the Malaysian doctor but failed to get a permit from a Nepal doctor to climb. I am very positive he would have also made it to the summit if he was allowed, he was such a strong climber and was active in climbing activities,” he told Bernama.

Another national Everest hero, N Mohandas described Ramakrishnan as a very strong person mentally and physically and not easily discouraged.