Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest

Date: 25 May 1996
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

On 25 May 1996, two South Africans - Ian Woodall and Cathy O'Dowd, reached the summit of Mount Everest. This was the first official South African team to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Their jubilation was dampened when a member of their team, British photographer Bruce Herrod, went missing. He had reportedly reached the summit hours later, and is thought to have died on his descent. Until the end of apartheid, South Africans had not been able to get a permit for Everest. The expedition was initiated by Ian Woodall, who became the leader. South African president at the time, Nelson Mandela, was patron of the expedition. The climbing team was riddled with conflict for much of the expedition. Cathy O'Dowd went on to reach the summit of Everest again in 1999, this time from the Northern side. This made her the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both the southern (25 May 1996) and northern sides (29 May 1999).

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How we know this

01Tweedie N. 'Peace at last for Sleeping Beauty', from The Telegraph [online] Available at: www.telegraph.co.uk [Accessed on 24 May 2013]
02For a Change, 'Filming from the South Side of Life', [online] Available at: www.forachange.net [Accessed on 25 May 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013264

South African History Online (2011) 'Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013264 (Accessed: 23 July 2026).

South African History Online, Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013264, (accessed 23 July 2026).

"Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013264. Accessed 23 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Ian Woodall and Cathy O’Dowd becomethe first official South African team to conquer the Mount Everest." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013264.