- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMichael Phelps Ward
- Michael Ward was born on March 26, 1925 in London, England, UK. He was married to Felicity Jane Ewbank, Ewbank, Felicity Jane and Jane Ewbank. He died on October 7, 2005 in Lurgashall, West Sussex, England, UK.
- SpousesFelicity Jane Ewbank(1957 - October 7, 2005) (his death, 1 child)Ewbank, Felicity Jane(1957 - October 7, 2005) (his death, 1 child)Jane Ewbank(1957 - October 7, 2005) (his death, 1 child)
- In 1946 he had a successful season in the Swiss Alps but the following year fell some 200m while descending the Col de Coste-Rouge in the Ecrin mountains of South East France. Stone fall was the cause of the accident. Ward and the Scottish climber Bill Murray both suffered fractured skulls. Mr. Ward lost all memory until he awoke in the hospital but their companion John Barford was killed.
- Fathered a son named Mark with his wife, Felicity.
- During the Mt. Everest climb Dr. Ward had reached a high point of about 7,600m on the Lhotse Face, before his legs buckled "in the peculiarly jelly-like fashion of a drunkard's walk". He did return to almost the same height in much better shape.
- A surgeon and mountaineer, Michael Ward earned fame as the expedition physician in an historic 1953 expedition that successfully ascended Mount Everest. His work in researching potential routes was instrumental in the expedition's success. In addition, he was a renowned authority on high altitude medicine.
- After Everest, Dr. Ward focused on qualifying as a surgeon rather than joining his companions on the lecture circuit. He was not interested in the adulatory cheers of audiences.
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