Middlesex County Native Among Those Killed In Mount Everest Avalanche

A physician’s assistant from Edison died in an Mount Everest avalanche, triggered by the earthquake in Nepal, according to published reports.

Marisa Eve Girawong, who worked for Madison Mountaineering, was among those died in the avalanche at a base camp at Mount Everest, according to WNBC and WCBS.

The earthquake that rocked Nepal Saturday killed more than 2,200 people in four countries, according to WCBS.

The New York Daily News said Girawong was 28-years-old and previously worked at East Orange General Hospital.

According to the Madison Mountaineering website, the company is based on Seattle, Washington and “is a boutique mountain guide service” that specializes “in mountaineering expeditions to the “7 Summits” and other renowned international and domestic peaks, as well as unclimbed peaks in extremely remote regions.”

Girawong was a physician’s assistant whose focus was on trauma and wilderness medicine, according to the company’s website. It said she was an avid rock climber and mountaineer.

The company confirmed Girawong’s death in a post on its Facebook page:

“Our hearts are broken. It is with deep sorrow and profound grief that we can confirm the loss of our Everest/Lhotse base camp doctor, Marisa Eve Girawong. Eve perished in the aftermath of the avalanche that struck the base camp area following the devastating Nepal earthquake earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eve and her family and friends. We will have more information later after daybreak in Nepal and additional updates from our team. Thank you for your combined prayers and well wishes.”

Photo via Madison Mountaineering website