Kathmandu, April 9: Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to climb Mt Everest along with Tenzing Norgay, has been hospitalised for altitude sickness while he was in Khumjung on 5 April.

Hillary was rushed to Patan Hospital in a helicopter and has been diagnosed with High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) that causes breathing problems. Mark Zimmerman the medical director of the hospital said Hillary’s condition has greatly improved and he will be discharged Tuesday.

Hillary is scheduled to inaugurate the new children’s ward of the hospital Thursday. Hillary set up the Himalayan Foundation which helps to build schools and hospitals in Solu Khumbu.