Famed Mountaineer Falls to Death

Switzerland's Erhard Loretan had climbed the world's biggest peaks
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 29, 2011 4:23 PM CDT
Famed Mountaineer Falls to Death
A 1998 file photo of Swiss mountaineer Erhard Loretan.   (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/STR)

One of the world's top mountain climbers fell to this death today, reports the BBC. Switzerland's Erhard Loretan—one of a relative handful of climbers to have scaled all 14 world peaks above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet)—fell after a climbing accident in the Swiss Alps. Loretan was known for another incident that marred his acclaim: He pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter in 2001 after shaking his 7-month-old son to stop his crying. The death led to research highlighting the dangers of shaken baby syndrome, notes the Los Angeles Times. (More mountain climber stories.)

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