Chaos on Everest as four climbers die and 30 hit with altitude sickness

In its first climbing season in two years Mount Everest has been struck down by a spate of altitude sickness.

It's understood that four climbers have died on the mountain while as many as 30 others have been victims of altitude sickness and even frostbite.

See also: Tallest mountain on earth isn't Everest

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According to the BBC good weather conditions have led to plenty of people attempting to stake their claim on the mountain.

Since 11 May, 400 people have reached the top from the Nepalese side.

However it hasn't all been positive news, Maria Strydom, 34, from Australia has been named as one of the mountain's victims having died as a result of severe altitude sickness.

The Evening Standard reports that Dr Strydom was on a mission to prove that vegans can conquer physical challenges.

Dr Strydom was climbing the mountain with her husband, Robert Gropal at the time of her death.

This wasn't the first summit Dr Strydom had attempted, she was said to be an experienced climber who had reached the top of a number of mountains previously.

Aletta Newman, Dr Strydom's sister, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the family were still waiting to hear whether or not they would be able to recover her body from the mountain.

She said: "It just wouldn't feel right leaving her up there alone. It will make it so much harder."

Eric Arnold, from the Netherlands, also died on the mountain on Friday having apparently told members of his team: "My body has no energy left."

It's understood that he had enough bottled oxygen with him as well as climbing partners, but complained of getting weak.

Officials said Mr Arnold died near the South Col on Friday night before he could get down to a lower altitude.

In a local television interview early this year, Arnold said conquering the iconic mountain was a childhood dream of his.

​Phurba Sherpa is also understood to have fallen to his death on the mountain last Thursday. The crew member was attempting to fix a route near the summit when he fell.

Subhash Paul from India died overnight on Sunday while he was being helped down the mountain by Sherpas.

Two other Indian climbers from the same team as Mr Paul have also been reported missing on the mountain and authorities have stated that people suffering from altitude sickness and frostbite is not unusual on Everest.

Wangchu Sherpa, Managing Director of Trekking Camp Nepal, told CNN: "It's not clear what happened. We believe the weather suddenly deteriorated at some point, and the team lost direction."