On May 9, Gau and Chen prepared to head for the 8000-meter-high Camp IV, but Chen slipped and fell outside their tent before they were set to depart. Although he seemed to be relatively uninjured, Chen decided it would be best if he stayed back for a while, and sent Gau and three Sherpas ahead.
5 月 9 日，當高銘和與陳玉男預備出發往 8,000 公尺的第四營前，陳玉男在帳棚外不慎滑落斜坡，回營時看來並無大礙，想略為休息後再跟上，而由高銘和與 3 位雪巴先上。