Discovery Channel will turn footage from the now scuttled live jump from Mount Everest into a documentary special. The decision comes after last weeks single deadliest incident ever recorded on Everest killing at least 16 people, including 13 Nepalese Sherpas.
The documentary will focus on the avalanche, Discovery has confirmed to Mashable. A TV crew producing the jump special was filming at the base camp on Friday when the avalanche swept the Sherpas off the mountain.
As reported by this website last week, High-altitude climber and wing-suit explorer Joby Ogwyn had planned a record breaking jump from the summit for a live TV special to air on Foxtel’s Discovery in May. An NBC crew was shooting advance footage for the special, but in the wake of the tragedy, the jump special was scrapped.
Discovery was left with little choice but to cancel the TV special after Nepauluan Sherpas made the decision to go on strike in protest of poor pay and conditions after the tragedy effectively cancelling the 2014 climbing season. Some of the Sherpas killed in the avalanche had been hired by Ogwyn and the production company.
Discovery says it is planning a donation to a Sherpa charity, and that it hopes the jump can still occur in 2015.
