Ex-beauty queen loses finger to frostbite at Mera Peak

KUALA LUMPUR: In yet another remarkable feat of endurance and determination, former Malaysian beauty queen Datin Harveen Kaur (above) has scaled Mera Peak, her second conquest in just seven months, but lost a finger to frostbite.

Situated amidst the awe-inspiring Himalayan range in Nepal, Mera Peak stands at 6,470m above sea level, posing a formidable challenge to even the most experienced climbers.

Accompanied by a Sherpa guide, Harveen, 44, reached the summit on April 11, Bernama reported.

The achievement follows her ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, where she reached the Uhuru peak at an elevation of 5,895m on Sept 24 last year.

Harveen’s remarkable accomplishment on Mount Kilimanjaro earned her a prestigious place in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “First Beauty Queen to summit Mount Kilimanjaro”.

However, the climb to Mera Peak presented even greater challenges.

Enduring temperatures plummeting to -25°C, Harveen faced the harsh reality of high-altitude mountaineering, even losing her left hand middle finger to frostbite.

“It was too cold,” she recounted upon her return to Malaysia, reflecting on the harsh conditions she encountered during the climb.

Undeterred by adversity, Harveen is already setting her sights on her next summit, planning to conquer another mountain in December.

Beyond her achievements in the world of beauty pageants, where she secured the title of Mrs Malaysia World on Sept 7, 2017, Harveen continues to inspire with her adventurous spirit and indomitable will to conquer new heights.