Sir Ed's ashes in New Zealand and Nepal

Wellington, Jan 24: The first conqueror of Mt. Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary's ashes might be scattered in New Zealand as well as Nepal. The Dominion Post has reported that the adventurer's family is considering scattering some of his ashes in the Solu Khumba region of Nepal, where he scaled the world's highest mountain in 1953, and where he returned regularly as he devoted his life to improving the lives of the region's Sherpa people.

The remnants of the ashes would be scattered near Auckland, as wished by Sir Ed. Sir Ed had written in his 1999 memoir 'View from the Summit' that he wanted his ashes scattered into the Hauraki Gulf on Auckland's eastern coast. "I should even like my ashes to be spread on the beautiful waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, to be washed gently ashore maybe on the many pleasant beaches near the place where I was born. Then the full circle of my life will be complete," Stuff.co.nz quoted Sir Ed, as stating in his memoir.

The Hillary family is still considering options but a close family friend says scattering his ashes in the two countries is the most likely scenario.

It is not yet known when this would take place.

Sir Ed passed away on January 11 because of a heart stroke.

ANI