An Australian hiker has died in flooding in Nepal, where he was returning from a trek of Mount Kailash in Tibet. Michael Keats, a support teacher from Mollymook on the New South Wales South Coast, was identified by his loved ones, who announced his death on Monday evening.
Moruya High School relieving principal Glenn Grimmond paid tribute to Mr. Keats in a letter to parents, stating, "Michael was a valued member of our school community, and his loss will be deeply felt by our students, staff and families." He added, "We recognise that this news may be particularly upsetting for students who knew Mr. Keats and had a connection with him through their learning or wellbeing support, or who may simply be affected by the circumstances of his passing."
Mr. Keats' partner, Emily Boyd, described him as "an incredibly important part" of her family and her young son's father figure. She launched a fundraiser to help Mr. Keats' sisters travel to India for a yoga and spiritual ritual in his honor. A portion of the funds will also be donated to communities affected by the flooding in Nepal. At the time of publication, the fundraiser had garnered over $36,000.
Mr. Keats was understood to be a follower of Indian spiritual leader Jagadish Vasudev, known as Sadhguru. Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation, stated that Mr. Keats and ten other Australians were at a border checkpoint in Gyirong when the flash floods occurred.
Nepalese authorities have confirmed 919 deaths and 4,793 people missing on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border. Many of the missing individuals were on pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for several religions. At least 43 Australians are reported missing in Nepal, not including Cara Severino, 26, who was rescued. The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed a C-17A Globemaster III with humanitarian supplies and disaster relief equipment to Nepal.
Authorities in Nepal have warned that the repatriation of foreign remains may take time, detailing a nine-step process for releasing bodies. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a 24-hour emergency hotline for assistance.
