Farewell to a Climbing Icon

The global mountaineering community mourns the loss of Yuri Contreras Cedi, a pioneering Mexican alpinist and orthopedic surgeon, who passed away at the age of 62 on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Contreras suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in the L’Étape Cancún by Tour de France cycling event in Cancún, Mexico. Despite immediate medical attention and hospitalization, he could not be revived.

Yuri Contreras, Everest Legend, Dies at 62 (Yuri Contreras/Instagram)

Just a day before the cycling event, Contreras shared a message on social media that now feels especially poignant: “On two wheels, the world ceases to be routine and becomes an adventure.” It was a reflection of how he approached life – not only in the mountains, but in every pursuit – with energy, curiosity, and determination.

Contreras was born in Mexico City and spent much of his life in León, Guanajuato, where he became known not only for his career in medicine but also for his remarkable accomplishments in the mountains. He was a trailblazer in Latin American mountaineering, most famously for being the first Latin American climber to summit Mount Everest via two different routes. In 1996, he reached the top of Everest from the North Col route in Tibet, and just a year later, in 1997, he returned to the summit via the South Col route from Nepal. This back-to-back achievement placed him among a select group of international climbers who have stood on the world’s highest point using both the northern and southern approaches.

Over the course of his career, Contreras climbed Everest a total of four times—a feat that speaks to his endurance, skill, and passion for high-altitude mountaineering. His climbing résumé includes some of the most formidable peaks on the planet, such as K2, Makalu, and Gasherbrum, as well as expeditions in the Andes and across other major ranges. Many of these adventures were shared with his wife and climbing partner, Laura González del Castillo, with whom he formed a well-known and respected duo in the international climbing community.

Outside of mountaineering, Contreras had a respected medical career as an orthopedic surgeon. He was known for balancing his demanding profession with his love for adventure – a rare combination that inspired many who knew him, whether in the hospital or in the mountains.

His death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across Mexico and the global climbing community. The governor of Guanajuato, Libia Dennise García, along with the state’s sports authorities, expressed their deep condolences, recognizing his legacy and the inspiration he offered to athletes throughout the country.

Yuri Contreras will be remembered as a mountaineer who opened new paths for Latin Americans on the world’s highest peaks. His legacy lives on in every climber who dares to go further, to reach higher, and to never stop exploring. Rest in peace, Yuri. Your journey continues in the mountains you loved.