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Helicopter rescues last survivor of K2 disaster
Wednesday, August 06, 2008 | No comments posted.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — The last survivor of the deadliest mountaineering disaster ever to hit the world’s second-highest peak was rescued by helicopter today, nearly five days after the tragedy, a Pakistani army spokesman said.
Italian climber Marco Confortola and three members of his support team were taken from a K2 base camp and were on their way to a nearby town, spokesman Maj. Farooq Feroz said.
As many as 30 mountaineers began their ascent of K2 on Friday. An avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded in frigid conditions just below the 28,250-foot summit.
In all, 11 people died: three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistanis and mountaineers from France, Ireland, Serbia and Norway.
Fatal accidents are common on the treacherous peaks that attract top mountaineers to Pakistan each summer, but this is the deadliest single incident in memory, surpassing the seven climbers killed on K2 during a fierce storm in 1995.
K2, which straddles Pakistan and China in the Karakoram range, is regarded by mountaineers as far more challenging than Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. The mesmerizing giant pyramid of K2’s knife-edged ridges and icy slopes are steeper and prone to both avalanches and sudden and severe storms.
Italian climber Marco Confortola and three members of his support team were taken from a K2 base camp and were on their way to a nearby town, spokesman Maj. Farooq Feroz said.
As many as 30 mountaineers began their ascent of K2 on Friday. An avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded in frigid conditions just below the 28,250-foot summit.
In all, 11 people died: three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistanis and mountaineers from France, Ireland, Serbia and Norway.
Fatal accidents are common on the treacherous peaks that attract top mountaineers to Pakistan each summer, but this is the deadliest single incident in memory, surpassing the seven climbers killed on K2 during a fierce storm in 1995.
K2, which straddles Pakistan and China in the Karakoram range, is regarded by mountaineers as far more challenging than Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. The mesmerizing giant pyramid of K2’s knife-edged ridges and icy slopes are steeper and prone to both avalanches and sudden and severe storms.
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