Family of missing Wakefield man on Everest fund £150,000 for urgent search

The partner of a Yorkshire man who went missing on Everest has launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for a search mission.

Daniel Paterson, 40, a personal trainer from Wakefield and a big Leeds United fan, is feared dead after he and his guide Pastenji Sherpa, 23, reached the summit of Everest but disappeared during the descent . The pair were reported missing after a cornice – a mass of snow and ice aloft – collapsed near the summit. The pair were reported to have fallen on the Tibet side of the mountain after the ice collapsed.

Daniel’s partner Becks Woodhead launched a Go Fund Me appeal to raise £150,000 for a “search and rescue” operation involving helicopter searches and the use of specialist search teams.

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The fund can be found here – and has already raised over £110,000 from nearly 4,000 donations.

Beck’s post says: “My name is Becks Woodhead and I am the partner of Dan ‘Pat’ Paterson. Dan’s family and I urgently need your help.

On May 21, at 4:40 am, Daniel Paterson successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest – a monumental achievement and a testament to his strength and determination.

“Tragically, during his descent, Daniel disappeared and there has been no contact or sighting since.

“Dan is not just an adventurer; he is a beloved son, brother, partner, friend and a proud co-owner of Wakefield Crossfit. He is known for his adventurous spirit, kindness and unwavering dedication to helping others. Now, it’s our turn to help him. With his passion for Leeds United, please help us find him following the upcoming final.

“Time is of the essence in a situation like this and we are mobilizing all the resources we can to locate Dan. We hope to launch a search mission with the assistance of a rescue team specialized in search operations in extreme environments.

“Running a search and rescue operation on Everest is an incredibly complex and expensive endeavor. We are not experts in this and there is no guarantee of success”.

Becks said she had been told a search and rescue operation would cost around £150,000.

“We are looking to raise funds to ensure we can conduct a comprehensive and effective search operation. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to finding Dan. Your support will directly impact our ability to locate him and bring him back home. to those who love him. We are extremely grateful for any support you can provide during this critical time.”

Details of the fundraiser can be found here

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