Sir Edmund Hillary will be given a state funeral in New Zealand, a spokesman said yesterday. The modest adventurer, who descended from the summit of Everest and told a colleague, “Well George, we’ve knocked the bastard off”, will also be honoured with flags at half-mast on all Government buildings.

The date for the funeral is expected to be set this weekend. His family welcomed the decision after his country’s Prime Minister described him as a “colossus” who lived with humility.

Hillary’s widow, June, said in a statement that he had died peacefully in hospital after a prolonged illness. “He had been in good form and was looking forward to coming home and had remained in good spirits till the end,” she said.

His son, Peter, is believed to be en route to New Zealand from Portugal. He is also survived by a daughter, Sarah, and several grandchildren.

Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, said that Hillary had described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities, but in reality he was admired across the world. “He was an heroic figure who not only ‘knocked off’ Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity,” she said.

Buckingham Palace said that the Queen was sending a personal message of sympathy to his widow and family. The Queen met Hillary – who was made a Knight of the Garter in 1995 – many times, most recently at the garter ceremony in Windsor in 2004. She also met him during her 2002 tour of New Zealand.

Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, praised his work in building more than 30 hospitals and schools in Nepal.

“Sir Edmund not only climbed to one of the purest victories known to humankind, thereby championing and pioneering an awareness of the treasures of our earth, he also worked to build health and education in the communities around him,” Mr Ban said.

A long-time friend of Hillary told The Times yesterday how the mountaineer had seen Everest for the last time during a visit to Nepal 18 months ago. Mark Sainsbury, a documentary maker, said: “The last time he would have seen it was when we went back with him about 18 months ago when we went up in a helicopter. He got a glimpse of it.”

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