HAPE was recognized by physicians dating back to the 19th century but was originally attributed to high altitude pneumonia. The first documented case of pulmonary edema, confirmed by autopsy, was probably that of Dr Jacottet who died in 1891 in the Observatoire Vallot on Mont Blanc. After participating in a rescue on the mountain, the doctor refused to return. Instead, he spent further two nights at an altitude of with obvious AMS symptoms and died on the second night.