The death of Melbourne woman Maria Strydom during a climbing expedition on Mount Everest has sparked an outpouring of emotion on social media.
The 34-year-old expert in banking and finance was on a seven-week expedition with her husband Robert Gropel - who has also been injured during the trek.
Monash University, where she taught, released a statement via Facebook.
"The Monash University community is deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of Dr Strydom on Mount Everest," the statement said.
"We are liaising with authorities and our heartfelt thoughts and support are extended to Maria’s family, her friends, colleagues and students."
Her colleague at Monash, Philip Gray told the ABC Dr Strydom was "a much-loved friend to many and inspiration to all".
A file image of Dr Maria Strydom (AAP) Source: AAP
"Maria will be greatly missed — but very fondly remembered — by her many generations of students and colleagues at Monash business school and the broader academic community throughout Australasia," Professor Gray said.
Students also mourned the loss of the academic on Monash's tribute post.
"It's extremely sad to hear about this tragedy," said Facebook user Shefali Gautam.
"May she rests in peace. My condolences to her family and friends."
The expedition also cost the life of Dutch man Eric Arnold.
According to Dutch news agency ANP, Mr Arnold told fellow trekkers "my body has no energy left," before dying in his sleep.
After hearing of Mr Arnold's death on Saturday, Dr Strydom's mother Maritha, tried to contact the expedition, but by Sunday she was informed of the dreaded news.
"My beautiful girl," she wrote on Facebook.
"I'm just [too] devastated to communicate."
Dr Strydom and Dr Gropel are vegans who were determined to climb the highest mountains on each continent.
Dr Gropel reportedly suffered high altitude pulmonary oedema while climbing the world's highest mountain.
Dr Strydom's sister on Monday said Dr Gropel's condition had improved after he'd reached a lower camp and there was a plan to evacuate him overnight.
"We are really so glad that it seems that he'll make it," Aletta Newman told AAP from Brisbane.
Nepalese Pemba Sherpa, Operation Manager of Seven Summit Treks, shows the spot on a map where an Australian woman died (AAP) Source: AAP
"He's probably the person who can give us the most answers in terms of what really happened because he was there."
Dr Gropel's parents, Heinz and Patricia, flew out of Australia around midnight.
Before departing, Heinz Gropel revealed to authorities he had hoped to fly his son to Kathmandu by helicopter.
He was told on Sunday night Australian time an evacuation attempt was imminent, with the families hopeful he'd be rescued by the end of Sunday local time.
"We had information late yesterday that he seemed to be better physically now that he's lower down," Ms Newman said.
"He is able to speak but obviously he's absolutely distraught - he's absolutely broken.
"He's very determined not to leave Nepal without his wife."
Ms Newman added that getting her sister's body down was "absolutely what we want".
Dr Strydom's family say the couple's GPS tracker stopped working on Friday.
A single transmission from the tracker on Saturday gave them hope but a Google search on Saturday night delivered the devastating news that Dr Strydom had died, her sister Aletta Newman told AAP.
"Before I went to bed last night, I came across this article in the Himalayan Times naming my sister as having died on Everest and that is the absolute first I'd heard of it," Ms Newman told AAP from Brisbane on Sunday.
Seven Summit Treks confirmed Dr Strydom's death but said it didn't have her family's details to get in touch.
"We could have informed her family but we don't have any contact information," the company told AAP.
Ms Newman said efforts were underway to recover her sister's body but from an elevation of 8000 metres it would be difficult.
