Rescue on Annapurna: Ueli Steck HAS REACHED Inaki Ochoa –Updated

BREAKING NEWS

I have recently been following a high altitude rescue attempt that is taking place on Annapurna. If you will remember back a few days ago, word had been sent out that climber Inaki Ochoa, who has previously summited 12 8,000 meter peaks–was in trouble. In days previous, Inaki was trying to top out on Annapurna. His attempt was unsuccessful. He was turned back a few meters from the summit due to frostbite and runing out of rope. Things went downhill from there. Inaki called his wife and family from Camp IV and said he was tired and had received some frostbite during his climb. A half hour later, Inaki Ochoa was vomiting violently, then went in to an almost comatose state.

A call for help was put out for climbers in the area. Inaki Ochoa needed some fast help. Unfortunately there was no one around, other than his climbing partner, who could not bring him down by himself. A couple of days later, Ueli Steck has stepped up to the plate and taken it upon himself to try the high-altitude rescue.

News has come out today that Ueli Steck has reached Inaki Ochoa at Camp IV and is currently administering medicine to the fallen climber. Many people thought that Inaki Ochoa would not survive the night, when this first began to take shape. He has survived and is surviving and now has the help and aid of Ueli Steck. Other climbers are currently headed to Inaki, as well. Hopefully they can get him down from Camp IV and back where he can get some much needed medical attention. Let’s hope this rescue goes as planned. You can never tell on these things, but luckily there are individuals out there like Ueli Steck, who will jump to help in a heartbeat. Let’s keep these guys in our thoughts today as this high altitude rescue continues on Annapurna–I will keep you updated. Also, if anyone else runs across more information, send me a tip at theadventurist@cliffhanger.com.

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SECOND UPDATE  Posted 3:33 pm May 22, 2008

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ExplorersWeb has just updated the above information.

As most of you guessed, the Swiss rescuers are Ueli Steck and his climbing mate Simon. Ueli has now reached Iñaki in camp 4, after two days climbing in bad weather.

Literally running up next is Denis Urubko, sleepless since he found out about Ochoa while in Kathmandu. Russian Serguey Bogomolov should be in a hospital, nursing frostbites he suffered on the wall two weeks ago. Instead, he’s leading rescue team number 2, of Denis and Don Bowie who has volunteered to help as well, in spite of leaving the team earlier due to differences between the climbers.

There is also news that a third rescue party is waiting in back-up if the first two can not extract Ochoa from Annapurna.  Ochoa is said to be unable to walk or speak, but can eat and drink.  At least that is a bit of hope, he isn’t totally incapacitated, although in high-altitude that is about as close as you can get.

More from ExWeb:

Artur Hajzer has provided route details and Javier G. Corripio is providing special weather reports. Climbers’ friends and home teams, mountaineering websites such as RussianClimb and ExWeb, team sponsors and Inaki’s family have all been working around the clock from all corners of the world over the different time zones to save the men on the south face of Annapurna - in one of the most difficult rescue operations ever in the Himalayas.

I will update more as I get word.  Keep the fingers crossed!

Photo of Inaki Ochoa Courtesy of ExplorersWeb