Three foreign mountaineers were rescued by the Pakistan Army on Wednesday after being stranded while attempting to scale K2, the world’s second-highest peak. The climbers, from the Netherlands, Singapore, and Ecuador, aimed to conquer the peak known as Savage Mountain due to its challenging ascent and high fatality rate.
One mountaineer recounted, “I came to Pakistan to climb K2 but fell from the glacier and injured my arm. I was rescued by a Pakistan Army helicopter.” Another climber shared her experience, “I reached K2 base camp but fell ill due to bad weather conditions. I had a severe cough and flu and was rescued by the army.”
The third climber echoed, “I fell from the glacier, and the Pakistan Army saved me.” After the rescue, the climbers received immediate medical aid and warmth, expressing their gratitude to their rescuers.
Pakistan is a major destination for adventurous climbers, hosting five of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders. However, such expeditions often come with significant risks. Earlier in 2023, a Pakistani porter died while assisting climbers, and in 2021, renowned climber Mohammad Ali Sadpara and two others went missing on K2, later declared dead. Sadpara is noted for climbing eight of the 14 highest mountains.
K2, located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, remains one of the deadliest mountains, with many climbers losing their lives attempting its peak.
