British climbers stored after fatal avalanche hits tent

Two British mountaineers have been rescued from a remote peak in Pakistan after they were hit by an avalanche at 19,000ft.

Pakistan army helicopter pilots took part in what their general called a "daring mission" to reach Bruce Normand and Timothy Miller on the 24,239ft Ultar Sar mountain near Hunza Valley on Sunday.

The men became stranded on Friday when an avalanche hit their tent 19,300ft above sea level. Their climbing companion, Christian Huber, from Austria, did not survive.

The three-member expedition started in May and was being managed by Higher Ground Expeditions, a tour operating company in Hunza.

Image: The mountaineers became stranded when their tent was hit by an avalanche

Pakistan army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor tweeted: "Bruce Normand and Miller Timothy from UK successfully rescued alive while Christian Huber from Austria had succumbed to avalanche."

The British high commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew, thanked the Pakistan army for the rescue operation.

Mr Drew said: "A remarkable and dangerous rescue. Our gratitude to the Pakistan army pilots who rescued two British climbers trapped by avalanche on Ultar Sar Peak near Hunza.

"Our thoughts with the Austrian fellow climber who did not survive the avalanche."

Image: The helicopter on the snow-capped mountain

The rescue mission began on Saturday but pilots could not complete the mission because of appalling weather conditions.

Ultar Sar has been described as a difficult and dangerous mountain to climb, with a significant risk of avalanches.

More from Pakistan

• Pakistani Taliban leader killed in airstrike in Afghanistan near border

• Pakistan cricketers told to stop wearing smartwatches by ICC anti-corruption team

• Kashmir unrest: Protests after Indian soldiers shoot five rebels dead

• Sana Cheema: Body of alleged 'honour killing' victim exhumed in Pakistan

• Malala Yousafzai in tears as she returns to Pakistan six years after Taliban attack

• Imran Khan's hat-trick: Cricketer turned politician marries Bushra Maneka

Northern Pakistan is a favoured destination for climbers. It rivals Nepal for the number of peaks over 24,000ft and has five of the world's 14 summits taller than 8,000 meters.

It is situated between the western end of the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush mountains and the Karakoram range.

Original Article

World

December 31, 2018