A 35-year-old Irish woman who died while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has been described as "very kind and good natured".
Majella Duffy from Rathcormac, Co Cork, died last Friday while climbing the mountain in memory of her late father, who had died of a heart attack, and to raise money for the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF).
The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to Ms Duffy’s family. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Local councillor Deirdre O'Brien previously worked with Ms Duffy at Laya Healthcare in Little Island, Cork.
"Majella was a lovely girl, really genuine. What you saw is what you got with Majella," she told The Irish Times. "I used to work with her in Laya, I sat beside her. Majella never said no, she was always there to give a helping hand, she was always just very kind and good natured. I got on well with her.
“There’s total disbelief in the community here. There’s total sadness for the family, for this to happen such a young person.”
‘Lots of friends’
Donal Clancy, managing director at Laya Healthcare said: "Everyone here is devastated by the news. She was such a lovely person and had lots of friends in the company.
“Majella will be deeply missed by everyone. We’d like to extend our heartfelt condolences to all her family, friends and loved ones at this sad time.”
Ms Duffy raised nearly €9,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation and was well-known in the bodybuilding community in Ireland.
A notice on RIP.ie states: “Beloved daughter of Bernie and the late Mike. To the inexpressible grief of her heartbroken Mam Bernie, Stepdad Seamus, stepsister, stepbrothers, grandmother Mary, uncles, aunts, cousins, work colleagues at Laya Healthcare, neighbours, a large circle of wonderful and loyal friends. Majella’s funeral arrangements will be announced later.”
Adventure Holiday specialists Earth’s Edge issued a statement saying Ms Duffy had died on July 14th at 8.15am local time while on Kilimanjaro.
“We have a group trekking on Kilimanjaro at the moment and one of our team has unfortunately passed away. We have informed her family.
“She died of unknown causes while being attended to by a doctor at the scene.”
