07 January 2006
Heinrich Harrer dies aged 93
Heinrich Harrer, the Austrian alpinist and famed book author died at the age of 93 in a hospital in Friesach, Austria. In his condolence message to Mrs Carina Harrer, sent from Amravati in South India where he is holding Kalachakra teachings the Dalai Lama said: "We feel we have lost a loyal friend from the West". Mr Harrer, he said "had the unique opportunity to experience life in Tibet for seven long years before Tibet lost its freedom. We Tibetans will always remember Heinrich Harrer and will miss him greatly". Heinrich Harrer, and his companion Peter Aufschnaiter, lived in Lhasa after escaping from a British prisoner of war camp in India and described life in an independent Tibetan state during the 1940s. His book ‘Seven years in Tibet’ which was published in 1952, was an international best-seller. A 1997 screen version of the book was directed by French director Jean-Jacques Annaud, and starred Bratt Pitt in Harrer’s role.