[Deathwatch] Heinrich Harrer, Austrian mountaineer, 93

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, whose life was
portrayed in his book and the film "Seven Years in Tibet," died on
Saturday aged 93, Austrian officials said in a statement.

He was the first person to climb the north face of Switzerland's Eiger
mountain in 1938, but won world renown after his book, the film version
of which was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and starred Brad Pitt.

Harrer was taken prisoner by British forces in 1944 during an
expedition in the Himalayas but escaped and fled over the mountain
range to Tibet.

He struck up a close friendship with the Dalai Lama when staying at the
Tibetan capital of Lhasa from 1946 to 1951, before China annexed the
country.

Following media reports, Harrer admitted in the 1990s he had been a
member of the Nazi party.

Harrer was admitted to hospital two days ago in Friesach in southern
Austria. There were no details of the cause of death.


Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary