KATHMANDU: The body of German mountaineer Luis Stitzinger has been found on Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain, expedition organisers said Wednesday, days after he went missing during his descent from the summit, reports AFP.

A search team of five Nepali guides found Stitzinger’s body just below the peak at about 8,400 metres (27,600 feet) on Tuesday, Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP. They are bringing his body down, Sherpa said.

Rescue efforts had earlier been hampered by weather conditions.

An experienced mountaineer and guide, Stitzinger had previously summitted several other mountains higher than 8,000 metres.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks and welcomes hundreds of adventurers each spring, when temperatures are mild and Himalayan winds are typically calm.

Nepal issued more than a thousand permits for its mountains this season, including 44 for Kanchenjunga, and hundreds have reached summits as the season draws to a close.

On Everest, 12 people have been confirmed dead and five others are missing, putting 2023 on course to be a record year for deaths.