AT BASE camp on the Tibetan side of Mt Everest there is a plaque with the words "the mountain is the climbers' home".

Mackay photographer John Drzewicki captured the image in April while there with Frank Marchetti who, in the weeks to come, would go on to attempt to summit Mt Everest.

But last Sunday Mr Marchetti, a very experienced climber, came within a few hundred metres of reaching his goal when he was forced to turn back after falling ill with altitude sickness at 8300m.

The 53-year-old died while descending.

Mr Drzewicki and Mr Marchetti had spent more than a month together in Nepal before the summit attempt.

The photographer was part of a tour group being led by Mr Marchetti before he met up with his climbing party.

"He was so prepared for the Everest attempt," Mr Drezwicki said.

"One Briton (in the climbing party) was attempting to be the youngest female to summit both North and South faces of Everest. She has a sliver of good weather (when she decided) to make the attempt.

"Frank said it was like trying to thread a string through the eye of a needle with beer goggles on."

Mollie Hughes made it to the summit. After hearing of Frank's a death she paid tribute and made note of the time she spent with 'Frank the Aussie'.

"It was with great sadness that we heard this news. From so far away there was a feeling of helplessness that we weren't there to assist, or help or do anything. RIP Frank," she said.

A memorial service will be held. The family is still arranging the service, the details of which will be confirmed at a later date.