Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess, a former husband of Diana Ross, died in an accident while mountain climbing in South Africa, police officials said Tuesday. He was 66.

Naess died while climbing in Franschoek in the Western Cape, said International Media Liaison Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.

"It's not certain what was the cause of death but it's believed it was a climbing accident," Martins-Engelbrecht told Reuters. Naess had two children with Ross, including up-and-coming singer Leona Naess. He was an avid mountaineer who conquered Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain in 1985. He was born in Germany in 1937, a nephew of Norway's Arne Naess senior, who was a mountaineer and philosopher. He leaves seven children in total, including two with his partner, Norwegian Camilla Astrup.

Reuters/VNU
1/13/04 16:38 ET