The body of an Australian woman who died of altitude sickness near the summit of Mount Everest in May has been brought back to Melbourne.
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Monash University senior lecturer Maria Strydom collapsed 15 minutes from the mountain's peak on May 20 and died in her husband Robert Gropel's arms during their descent.
Last Friday, Mr Gropel vowed that he would not leave Nepal without his wife's body.
A spokesman for Monash University, which has been issuing comment on behalf of Dr Strydom's family, confirmed her body arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
Dr Strydom's netball club has organised a crowdfunding campaign to raise some of the $35,000 needed to bring the 34-year-old finance lecturer's body back to Melbourne.
As of Tuesday evening, St Michael's Netball Club in Ashburton had raised about $24,000 towards the effort and was still accepting donations.
The club's president, Scott Toniazzo, said he would keep the campaign going and that any amount raised above the $30,000 target would be given to charity.
"The family is amazed at everyone's generosity," he said.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the department had helped to bring Dr Strydom's body back to Australia and was providing consular assistance to her family.
She said DFAT was unable to provide any further information for privacy reasons.
