Some netizens are circulating a clip supposedly showing retrieval operations for Filipino mountaineer and engineer Philipp “PJ” Santiago II who passed away this month while preparing for his Mount Everest summit push. This is false.
Since May 17, Facebook (FB) users have been posting a clip of a seemingly unconscious climber strapped to a flying rescue helicopter. One of the posts overlaid a graphic bearing the photo of Santiago and the headline:
“BREAKING NEWS. Mountainer (sic) Engineer Philip Santiago II, 45, Dies on Mount Everest.”
This is not true. The clip is unrelated to Santiago’s death and has been debunked by the late engineer’s family.
Santiago’s cousin and broadcast journalist Emil Sumangil clarified in a May 17 FB post that the circulating clip does not show the mountaineer and clarified that they were still processing the retrieval of Santiago’s remains at that time.
Sumangil also posted that as of May 23, the retrieval of Santiago’s corpse was successful and that the return of his remains to the Philippines was being processed with the Nepali authorities.
The FB page Summitters Club, a travel company according to its profile, uploaded on May 16 the original video. The post’s caption indicates that this was a “rescue mission” for a female Russian climber.
The false video circulated three days after Santiago died at Camp 4 while preparing for his summit push to the world’s tallest mountain. An Indian climber also passed away in the same week during Mt. Everest’s current Spring climbing season from March to May.
VERA Files has debunked other videos with incorrect context.
Four false posts by FB users collectively garnered 12,763 views, 503 comments, 681 shares and 928,500 views as of writing.