Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer. On 29 May 1953, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt.
Sir Edmund Hillary died at the Auckland City Hospital at around 9 am NZDT of a heart attack on 11 January 2008 at the age of 88.
Sir Hillary’s death was announced by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark at around 11.20 am NZDT during which she stated that his passing was a "profound loss to New Zealand". His death was recognised by the lowering of flags to half-mast at the New Zealand Parliament, Auckland Harbour Bridge and at Scott Base in Antarctica. He was in hospital at the time of his death but was expected to come home that day according to his family