2 climbers just died descending Mount Everest

Two climbers have died descending Mount Everest, marking the first deaths on the world's highest mountain in 2016, The Associated Press reports.

Dutch climber Eric Arnold and Australian climber Maria Strydom both showed signs of altitude sickness before dying Friday and Saturday, respectively, Pasang Phurba of the Seven Summit Treks agency told the AP.

Arnold tweeted that he reached the summit on his fifth attempt.

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"A lot of people say, 'Maybe it's not your turn, maybe it's not your fate, maybe the mountain is telling you not to climb it,'" Arnold once told The Washington Post. "But I still have a passion for it. When I realized that, I decided I have to go back."

Since 1953, more than 250 people have died climbing Everest.