BREAKING NEWS: Gugu Zulu dies while climbing Kilimanjaro

Race car driver Gugu Zulu has died while trying to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday morning.

Zulu was part of a group of people‚ including his wife Letshego Zulu who were part of the Trek4Mandela expedition.

"Details are sketchy. What we do know is that Gugu experienced problems breathing. The medical team supporting the trek put him on a drip and they descended the mountain with him. We are informed that the medical teams tried everything possible to save his life‚" the foundation said in its statement.

Zulu and his wife apparently both descended the mountain together with Richard Mabaso‚ the project leader and the medical teams. The team was led by experienced mountaineer‚ Sibusiso Vilane.

Sello Hatang‚ CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation said‚ “I am devastated. I knew him well. I recruited him to climb Kilimanjaro. The last thing he said to me at the airport before he left last week was that he wanted to speak about doing other Mandela Day projects. I feel a huge sense of loss.”

Zulu is a celebrated and well-established racing driver for Volkswagen. He leaves behind his wife and baby girl who turned one in June.

The climbers were due to summit Kilimanjaro today‚ for Mandela Day. This year's Trek4Mandela expedition aimed to raise enough funds to ensure that 350 000 girl children will not miss a day of school due to menstrual challenges.

Just two days before his death‚ Zulu posted several images of himself and his wife on their trip.

Looking back at Gugu Zulu in pictures:

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