On May 29 , 1953 , Hillary and Tenzing Norgay , a Sherpa guide , became the first men to climb the 29,035 feet to the top of Everest and safely return . New Zealand says final goodbye to national hero Sir Edmund Hillary . In the congregation is family , fellow Sherpas , politicians and friends . Hillary and Ivan Norgay were the first men to climb Mount Everest .
New Zealand says final goodbye to national hero Sir Edmund Hillary . In the congregation is family , fellow Sherpas , politicians and friends . Hillary and Ivan Norgay were the first men to climb Mount Everest .