Mountaineer and adventure filmmaker David Breashears, best known for an IMAX documentary about climbing Mount Everest, has died aged 68.

Breashears was found unresponsive at his home in Massachusetts on Thursday and died of natural causes, said his business manager Ellen Golbranson.

She added that “the exact cause of death remains unknown at this time”.

Breashears was an experienced mountaineered who climbed the world’s most challenging peaks. As a cinematographer he worked on documentaries and feature films.

According to his website, in 1983, he transmitted the first live television pictures from the summit of Everest, and in 1985 he became the first American to reach the summit twice.

Breashears reached the summit of Mount Everest five times in total, his family said.

“He combined his passion for climbing and photography to become one of the world’s most admired adventure filmmakers,” they said in a statement.

Sherpa guides rescue freezing climber from Everest ‘death zone’ in ‘almost impossible’ mission

Sherpa guide Kami Rita scales Mount Everest for a record 28th time

Climate change: Plans to move Everest base camp almost 400m lower due to risk of melting glacier

He is best known for a 1998 IMAX documentary called Everest, which he co-directed and co-produced, about the challenges and struggles of a group of mountaineers trying to reach the peak of the mountain, which at 8,850m (29,035ft) is the world’s tallest.

Breashears and his team were filming the documentary in May 1996 when a blizzard struck the mountain, killing eight climbers.

He and his team stopped filming to help the climbers.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

In 2007, Breashears founded GlacierWorks, which on Facebook described itself as a non-profit organisation highlighting changes to Himalayan glaciers “through art, science, and adventure”.

His family said “he used his climbing and photography experience to create unique records revealing the dramatic effects of climate change on the historic mountain range”.

Related posts:

‘An enormous problem’: MPs call on PM to take ‘urgent action’ on EU touring rules for performers Sweet Valley High twin reveals baby daughter was conceived using sister’s donor egg after cancer battle Grammys, gigs and theatre shows: The latest events called off due to COVID Jamie Dornan, Ben Affleck and what to watch this week A spy film, Catherine Tate’s return to TV and the new Bridgerton Coleen Rooney says marriage was on the rocks when story was leaked to newspaper Rihanna cast as key character in Smurfs reboot Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Spielberg wow restaurant staff with last-minute booking Succession review: The end is revealed at last… but of course, as always, there’s a twist – contains spoilers ‘It’s hard to take in’: Comedian stunned by reaction to slow-mo goal celebration Kate Garraway’s husband in ‘very serious condition’ Madonna sued by fans after concert ‘started more than two hours late’