July 29, 2024
Two Japanese climbers fall from K2 in Pakistan, rescue efforts fail
SKARDU: Two elite Japanese climbers fell from Pakistan’s K2, officials said Sunday after a helicopter rescue attempt spotted the motionless pair but had to turn back. Veteran climbers Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima were attempting an ascent of the jagged west face of the world’s second-highest mountain, using an expert climbing style that prioritized speed and relied on minimal fixed ropes. But on Saturday “they fell from a height of 7,500 meters (24,600 feet),” Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Secretary Karrar Haidri said in a statement. “A helicopter rescue was attempted, however the helicopter could not land,” said Wali Ullah


