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Mount Everest documentary maker is found dead in his Massachusetts home: David Breashears, 68, summited FIVE times and made iconic 1998 IMAX film

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Mount Everest documentary maker is found dead in his Massachusetts home: David Breashears, 68, summited FIVE times and made iconic 1998 IMAX film


David Breashears, a mountaineer, author and filmmaker who co-directed and co-produced a 1998 IMAX documentary about climbing Mount Everest, has died, his business manager confirmed on Saturday. He was 68.

Breashears was found unresponsive at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts, on Thursday, Ellen Golbranson said. 

She said he died of natural causes but ‘the exact cause of death remains unknown at this time.’

Breashears was one of the most influential Americans in the world of Himalayan mountaineering summiting Mount Everest five times, including with the IMAX camera in 1996, his family said.

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Mountaineer, filmmaker and author David Breashears, 68, died on Thursday, at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts

David Breashears is seen behind the camera during the 1996 filming on Everest

David Breashears is seen behind the camera during the 1996 filming on Everest

The film, Everest, generated more than $120 million in revenue, and transformed Breashears into something of a celebrity

The film, Everest, generated more than $120 million in revenue, and transformed Breashears into something of a celebrity

‘He combined his passion for climbing and photography to become one of the world’s most admired adventure filmmakers,’ the family said in a written statement.

In 2007, Breashears founded GlacierWorks, which describes itself on Facebook as a nonprofit organization that ‘highlights changes to Himalayan glaciers through art, science, and adventure.’

‘With GlacierWorks, he used his climbing and photography experience to create unique records revealing the dramatic effects of climate change on the historic mountain range,’ his family said.

In 1983, Breashears transmitted the first live television pictures from the summit of Everest.

Two years later, in 1985 he became the first U.S. citizen to reach the summit twice.

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Breashears and his team were filming the Everest documentary when the May 10, 1996, blizzard struck the mountain, killing eight climbers. 

He and his team stopped filming to help the climbers.

David Breashears is pictured while filming the IMAX documentary 'Everest' that premiered in 1998

David Breashears is pictured while filming the IMAX documentary ‘Everest’ that premiered in 1998

Breashears summited Everest five times and founded GlacierWorks to address climate change's impact on Himalayan glaciers

Breashears summited Everest five times and founded GlacierWorks to address climate change’s impact on Himalayan glaciers

Breashears pioneering achievements include transmitting live TV images from Everest's summit in 1983

Breashears pioneering achievements include transmitting live TV images from Everest’s summit in 1983

His IMAX film chronicled his 1996 expedition to the peak alongside fellow American guide Ed Viesturs.

It explored the training that mountaineers endure prior to their expeditions, and the hazards they encounter along their route to the top. 

The film, Everest ,generated more than $120 million in revenue, and transformed Breashears into something of a celebrity. 

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Over the decaded Breashears helped millions of people learn about Mount Everest through his films and broadcasts.

Breashears, who grew up in Boulder, Colorado said he was the 135th person to reach the top of the world, and the experience forever changed him. 

‘Looking back to 1983, it almost seems quaint. We had the entire south side of the mountain to ourselves, and not only did I know who my teammates were, but I also knew they had come to Everest with the careful preparation, experience and thorough training to climb it,’ he told Frontline.

‘I remember feeling much closer to the mountain then, more in tune with the experience.’ 



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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.

The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.

The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.

For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.

The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.

The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.

Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.

That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!

Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.

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Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks

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Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks




Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks – CBS Boston

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Poya Sohrabi hasn’t heard from his family since they took shelter from attacks in Tehran. WBZ-TV’s Mike Sullivan reports.

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