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Fears grow for K2 Irish climber Fears grow for K2 Irish climber
(10 minutes later)
Fears are growing for the safety of an Irish climber, missing on the slopes of the world's second highest mountain.Fears are growing for the safety of an Irish climber, missing on the slopes of the world's second highest mountain.
On Friday, Gerard McDonnell, 37, from Kilcornan, County Limerick, became the first Irishman to summit K2.On Friday, Gerard McDonnell, 37, from Kilcornan, County Limerick, became the first Irishman to summit K2.
He was descending with a group of Dutch mountaineers when they were hit by falling ice and and cut off 8,000 metres from the base of the mountain.He was descending with a group of Dutch mountaineers when they were hit by falling ice and and cut off 8,000 metres from the base of the mountain.
On the Norit K2 Expedition website it lists Mr McDonnell and two other members as missing, status unknown.On the Norit K2 Expedition website it lists Mr McDonnell and two other members as missing, status unknown.
K2, which sits on the border between Pakistan and China, is notoriously difficult to climb. Weather patterns in the high-altitude Karakorum range where the mountain is placed are also extremely volatile.K2, which sits on the border between Pakistan and China, is notoriously difficult to climb. Weather patterns in the high-altitude Karakorum range where the mountain is placed are also extremely volatile.
The Reuters news agency said the Pakistani military was undecided whether to risk mounting a helicopter rescue mission because of the hazardous conditions, despite clear weather.The Reuters news agency said the Pakistani military was undecided whether to risk mounting a helicopter rescue mission because of the hazardous conditions, despite clear weather.
Mountaineer Chris Bonnington talks about the dangers of K2
"We're still discussing the possibilities of an operation because the altitude where the accident occured is very high," army spokesman Major Farooq Firoz, said."We're still discussing the possibilities of an operation because the altitude where the accident occured is very high," army spokesman Major Farooq Firoz, said.
"We can take a helicopter up there to drop medicines and supplies but carrying out any operation is very difficult.""We can take a helicopter up there to drop medicines and supplies but carrying out any operation is very difficult."
Five climbers from a South Korean team were killed in the ice fall, expedition organisers told the agency on Sunday.Five climbers from a South Korean team were killed in the ice fall, expedition organisers told the agency on Sunday.
"They were returning from the summit when an avalanche at the Bottleneck hit them," Ghulam Mohammad, owner of Blue Sky Travels and Tours, said."They were returning from the summit when an avalanche at the Bottleneck hit them," Ghulam Mohammad, owner of Blue Sky Travels and Tours, said.
"Our liason officer at the Base Camp confirmed death of five.""Our liason officer at the Base Camp confirmed death of five."
It has been reported that two members of other teams also died in the ice fall.It has been reported that two members of other teams also died in the ice fall.