Deadly Everest climb to 'prove a point'

The husband of Melbourne woman Marisa Strydom who died climbing Mount Everest has vowed not to leave Nepal without her body.

Robert Gropel says the pair - who were vegan - were attempting to tackle the seven peaks to "prove a point" when Ms Strydom got sick and died trying to climb back down the mountain.

"I'm just trying to be strong and learning to cope," he told ABC radio in his first interview since his wife's death on Friday.