Tragedy On K2 Update: Marco Confortola Has Been Located, Wilco van Rooijen Is Alive! Other Climbers Still Missing Or Stranded, Rescue Efforts Persist Into Third Day Of Tragic Events
August 2, 2008
First A quick note: Many Media sources are reporting that up to seven climbers have died on K2 in the last couple of days. Be weary of what you read and don’t take anything as truth. I understand that the climbers’ family and friends do stop by and read these posts at The Adventurist. They also comment on what they read. I have seen this happen with the tragic events on Mt. Hood in 2006, and respectfully, I try to present what is currently known and confirmed. To date there has only been one confirmed death out of this situation. Serbian climber Dren Mendic died after suffering a fall around Camp IV on K2. Any other reports of fatalities are pure speculation at his point and have not been made publicly available. If this information changes, I will update with the info. I would also like to welcome all readers visiting from UKclimbing.com. This is one of the premier climbing sites in the world and it is always nice to get their backing. Thank-you.
Tragedy on K2 Update-10:22 pm eastern time-August 2, 2008
Let’s start things off with a good note. Climber Marco Confortola has been located and is alive. Previously I reported that Marco was one of the missing climbers that rescuers were having a hard time of figuring out where he was. ExplorersWeb is reporting that Marco was located at Camp IV on K2 and is currently being looked after by one of the high-altitude porters. His condition is not immediately available, but at least he is alive and has been located. Click below for more.
Wilco van Rooijan is still being listed as missing, but there have been some signs that he may still be trying to find his way down to the lower camps. Wilco was forced to bivouac near K2’s summit with Marco Confortola lastnight, and today’s reports currently have Marco at Camp IV. Wilco was last heard from yesterday when he made a SAT phone call. His call was traced by way of GPS and located someplace between Camps IV and III. That is a small word of encouragement.
ExplorersWeb is also reporting that discussions have started concerning a high altitude aerial rescue using helicopters. The discussions seemed to have simmered down, as this would be an extremely dangerous move. The helicopters are not made to fly in that high of an altitude, and even if they could get that high, the terrain makes it almost impossible to land. The thin air could drop the copters out of the sky without warning–rescuers are looking to other options.
Going in to the third day of the K2 tragedy, a time-line is starting to get pretty thin for any rescue attempts. I hate to say this, but more than likely there is less than 24 hours to get something initiated, in action, and then completed before the weather makes a turn for the worse on Monday. We definitely do not want this to be a situation where more climbers end up trapped or perish due to the bad conditions moving in. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now! We can not wait.
A current list of missing climbers include: Dutchman Wilco van Rooijan, Irishman Gerard McDonel, Frenchman Hugues, Norwegian Rolf Bae, and several unnamed Korean climbers and porters. Some of the climbers that have been located and accounted for are still trapped above K2’s bottleneck. This is still a very, very dire situation. The threat of death looms for many with each passing minute Many of those missing are experienced climbers and could be heading down at some point, or have decided to use a different route. All the facts are not known. It was being mentioned early on that some climbers may have been injured during the initial ice collapse. More information on this situation has not become available of yet.
EverestNews is currently running an update in regards to Jasmine Tours. Jasmine Tours is responsible for three separate expeditions currently taking place on K2. They are the Expedition company of the Norit K2 Expedition. Out of this expedition, it looks like Wilco van Rooijen and Gerard McDonnel are the only two unaccounted for.
Speaking of Gerard McDonnel, a reader to The Adventurist has given a bit more information in his regards. On August 1, 2008, Gerard McDonnel became the first Irishman to ever summit K2. McDonnel was currently residing in Alaska where he was working in the oil industry. Let’s hope he gets back safe! That is a great feat.
Information from Jasmine Tours International K2 Expedition: This expedition is reporting two climbers still missing, as well. They are Austrian Christian Stangl and fellow Austrian, Thomas Strausz Mag. Many other climbers associated with this expedition have already left the K2 vincinity and are heading home. I am not sure the logic in these climbers heading home and leaving two fellow team mates where-abouts unknown.
Jasmin Tours’ Sunny mountain Chogori Expedition has listed everyone as safe and accounted for. This team is currently helping in ongoing rescue missions on K2.
If you add them up, that makes anywhere from 6 climbers still missing, up to the original 12 that were first reported. Once again, just because a climber has been accounted for, does not mean they are out of harms way. They could still be trapped just under K2’s summit.
Many, many teams and individuals are helping in the ongoing rescue attempt of the remaining climbers. Any climbers in, on, and around K2 are currently being asked to assist with what they can.
UPDATE>>>This is just Breaking as I write>>>Wilco van Rooijen HAS BEEN FOUND ALIVE. This is coming directly from the Norit K2 Expedition site. Here is the update:
WILCO IS ALIVE AND IN C3 WITH PEMBA AND CAS. RESCUE FROM K2BC IS IN PROGRESS. WE ARE BUSY ORGANIZING AND COMMUNICATING. WILCO IS ALLRIGHT, EXHAUSTED BUT HE SOUNDS GOOD. ONLY PROBLEMS WITH FEET.
WE HOPE TO UPDATE SOON!IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES FROM GERARD.
We have not heard or seen anything from Gerard.IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES FROM HUGUES.
We have not heard or seen anything From HUGUES or KARIM.
Remember, this is in regards to the Norit K2 Expedition. Great news as Wilco is alive!! Now if only the rest can be accounted for!
LATEST UPDATE POSTED: 8 Confirmed Dead, Four Missing Posted August 4, 2008 CLICK TO READ
NEW UPDATE: 11 Confirmed Dead In One Of Mountaineerings Most Deadly Accidents, List of Deceased
Be sure to check back often for further updates in regards to the K2 Tragedy and the climbers currently trapped. You may subscribe to The Adventurist’s Free Email Newsletter presented daily, or track us by RSS Feed in your favorite Feed Reader.
You may also join in on the current conversation with your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes for the stranded climbers. This area is begining to get a lot of interst as people stop by and offer their prayers and thoughts on this tragedy.
You may also check out my previous reports beginig when this news first broke. To check out the previous articles in relation to k2 and the current rescue efforts, click the articles below to get caught up on the situation.
At this time I would like to stop and thank each and every one of you for your continued interest in the current events on K2. I will try to update as more information is released. I would also like to welcome the readers coming in from UKClimbing.com, as well as those from Topix and AllTop for stopping by and joining in on the discussions. Please feel free to leave your thoughts in a comment on this post. Show these rescuers and climbers your support by leaving your well-wishes and Prayers, then stop back by for continued live updates.
Jason A. Hendricks
Editor, The Adventurist
From The Adventurist Vault:
Written by Jason A. Hendricks · Filed Under 2008 K2 Expeditions, K2, K2 Climbing Accident, K2 Tragedy, Uncategorized |
