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| K2 survivors describe avalanche | K2 survivors describe avalanche |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Survivors of an expedition to the top of the world's second-highest mountain have described scenes of panic after an avalanche hit the group on its descent. | Survivors of an expedition to the top of the world's second-highest mountain have described scenes of panic after an avalanche hit the group on its descent. |
| Eleven climbers died on K2, in Pakistan, over the weekend. | Eleven climbers died on K2, in Pakistan, over the weekend. |
| As about 25 climbers descended from the peak of K2 in the darkness on Friday, the avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded. | As about 25 climbers descended from the peak of K2 in the darkness on Friday, the avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded. |
| An Italian member of the group has been reached by rescuers and taken to an advance base camp on the mountain. | An Italian member of the group has been reached by rescuers and taken to an advance base camp on the mountain. |
| See route to climbing K2 | See route to climbing K2 |
| "People were running down but didn't know where to go," Dutch survivor Wilco van Rooijen told Reuters news agency from a Pakistani military hospital where he is being treated for frostbite. | "People were running down but didn't know where to go," Dutch survivor Wilco van Rooijen told Reuters news agency from a Pakistani military hospital where he is being treated for frostbite. |
| "So a lot of people were lost on the mountain on the wrong side, wrong route and then you have a big problem." | "So a lot of people were lost on the mountain on the wrong side, wrong route and then you have a big problem." |
| The Death Zone | The Death Zone |
| Many regard the 8,611m (28,251ft) peak as the world's most difficult to climb. | Many regard the 8,611m (28,251ft) peak as the world's most difficult to climb. |
| In the deadliest day in K2's history, the avalanche occurred when a chunk from an ice pillar snapped away on a steep gully called the Bottleneck. | In the deadliest day in K2's history, the avalanche occurred when a chunk from an ice pillar snapped away on a steep gully called the Bottleneck. |
| Wilco Van Rooijen, one of the rescued climbers | Wilco Van Rooijen, one of the rescued climbers |
| Fixed ropes that the climbers relied on were torn away and several climbers were swept to their deaths. | Fixed ropes that the climbers relied on were torn away and several climbers were swept to their deaths. |
| Others froze to death after they were stranded high on the mountain in the high-altitude level above 8,000 metres climbers call the Death Zone - where there is not enough oxygen to support life. | Others froze to death after they were stranded high on the mountain in the high-altitude level above 8,000 metres climbers call the Death Zone - where there is not enough oxygen to support life. |
| The Italian climber still on the mountain, Marco Confortola, spoke by satellite phone to his brother Luigi. | The Italian climber still on the mountain, Marco Confortola, spoke by satellite phone to his brother Luigi. |
| "Up there it was hell," Ansa news agency quoted him as telling his brother. | "Up there it was hell," Ansa news agency quoted him as telling his brother. |
| "During the descent, beyond 8,000 metres (26,000 feet), due to the altitude and the exhaustion I even fell asleep in the snow and when I woke up I could not figure out where I was". | "During the descent, beyond 8,000 metres (26,000 feet), due to the altitude and the exhaustion I even fell asleep in the snow and when I woke up I could not figure out where I was". |
| Pakistani helicopter pilots are attempting to reach Mr Confortola at the advance base camp at 6,000 metres where he has been taken by rescue climbers. | |
| "The helicopters are at standby as the weather in Skardu, Baltoro [glacier] and the base camp remains inclement. An attempt will be made as soon as the weather clears," a statement by a Pakistani firm that operates the rescue helicopters said. | |
| Killer mountain | Killer mountain |
| Mr van Rooijen said people in the large group of climbers - composed of several teams that had waited for a break in the weather to climb the mountain since July - had failed to work together after disaster struck. | Mr van Rooijen said people in the large group of climbers - composed of several teams that had waited for a break in the weather to climb the mountain since July - had failed to work together after disaster struck. |
| "They were thinking of using my gas, my rope," he said. "So actually everybody was fighting for himself and I still do not understand why everybody was leaving each other." | |
| He said he spent Friday night huddled in the snow above the Bottleneck with two other climbers, before making his way down the rest of the mountain. | He said he spent Friday night huddled in the snow above the Bottleneck with two other climbers, before making his way down the rest of the mountain. |
| He was airlifted by military helicopter from the mountain on Monday along with another Dutch climber. | He was airlifted by military helicopter from the mountain on Monday along with another Dutch climber. |
| He said some ropes had been laid in the wrong position - a mistake which took several valuable hours to correct, delaying the summit push until just before darkness. | He said some ropes had been laid in the wrong position - a mistake which took several valuable hours to correct, delaying the summit push until just before darkness. |
| Pakistani authorities said three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistani porters, and French, Serbian, Norwegian and Irish climbers had died on the mountain. | Pakistani authorities said three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistani porters, and French, Serbian, Norwegian and Irish climbers had died on the mountain. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Expedition organisers only learned of the avalanche after a group of climbers arrived back at the mountain's base camp on Saturday evening. | Expedition organisers only learned of the avalanche after a group of climbers arrived back at the mountain's base camp on Saturday evening. |
| Only a few hundred people have climbed K2 and dozens have died in the attempt. | Only a few hundred people have climbed K2 and dozens have died in the attempt. |
| The fatality rate for those who reach the summit at 27% is about three times higher than that for Mount Everest. | The fatality rate for those who reach the summit at 27% is about three times higher than that for Mount Everest. |
| One of the worst single-day death tolls was on Everest on 11 May 1996, when eight people died in summit attempts. | One of the worst single-day death tolls was on Everest on 11 May 1996, when eight people died in summit attempts. |
| Six people fell to their deaths or disappeared during a storm on K2 on 13 August 1995. | Six people fell to their deaths or disappeared during a storm on K2 on 13 August 1995. |
| The summit of K2 was first reached by two Italians, Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni, on 31 July 1954. | The summit of K2 was first reached by two Italians, Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni, on 31 July 1954. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Do you know anyone involved in any of the expeditions or have any information about them? Have you ever attempted to climb K2? | Do you know anyone involved in any of the expeditions or have any information about them? Have you ever attempted to climb K2? |
| Send your comments using the form below, or text 61124. | Send your comments using the form below, or text 61124. |