Filipino TV host and athlete Vince Velasco cut short a once-in-a-lifetime Mt. Everest climb after he experienced acute mountain sickness. He had to be airlifted off the mountain on May 21. He then spent the next three days in a hospital in Nepal.
According to a GMA News report, Velasco shared his ordeal via an Instagram post. He also calls it his “closest call” so far.
Vince Velasco: Not About The Destination But The Journey
In his Instagram post made 4 days after the incident, Velasco said that he was airlifted off the mountain. They were already at an altitude of 4,000 meters and only a few days away from the basecamp. According to him, his guide was the one who made the decision. He added that if it up to him, he would have “pushed harder.”
After giving it much thought, he has realized that it was God’s way of reminding him that reaching Mt. Everest will come later for him. He also acknowledges that despite it ending abruptly, this was one of his most memorable trips.
He left several of his teammates to continue the trek. Among them were Nella Lomotan, Cara Durano and Benj Ramos. The rest of the team made it to the Everest Base Camp on May 23, based on Lomotan’s Instagram post.
‘I Will Have My Day On The Mountain’
Velasco also expressed his thanks to the staff of the hospital as well as the townspeople of Pangboche for their help. He also vows to have his day on the mountain, as he will continue his Nepal expedition.
In the meantime, Velasco will keep himself with his TV commitments. These include hosting Solar Scoop on Solar TV with dancer-actress Kelley Day, and being a boxing instructor at boxing studio Flyweight. This former Kapuso actor also loves to share his travels and adventures on Instagram.