Pakistan Army rescues six foreign climbers with high-altitude sickness at K2

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army rescued six foreign mountaineers attempting to summit the K2 mountain in the country’s north after they suffered from high-altitude sickness, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday. 

Pakistan is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains that loom above 8,000 meters, including K2 and Nanga Parbat, which are known for their treacherous climbs. These mountains attract climbers from all parts of the world. According to official figures, over 8,900 foreigners visited the remote northern Gilgit-Baltistan region in 2023 where the summer climbing season runs from early June to late August.

K2, also known as the “Savage Mountain,” is Pakistan’s highest peak and the world’s second-highest mountain. Several climbers have died in the past attempting to summit the towering mountain.

“Pakistan Army has successfully rescued six foreign mountaineers who were attempting to summit K2,” Radio Pakistan said. “These climbers, hailing from the US, Chile, Macedonia, and Nepal, experienced high-altitude sickness at their base camp during the expedition.”

The state media said that the climbers had contacted the Pakistan Army for assistance, following which they were rescued from the base camp.

“The mountaineers thanked Pakistan Army for their timely rescue,” it said. 

In a video message, the climber from Macedonia said that the group was stuck for two-and-a-half hours below camp 3 at the mountain. 

“We were at a high risk of frostbites, my fingers were very cold,” he said. “I felt some preliminary symptoms of acute mountain sickness and that’s why I am very grateful to the Pakistan military for rescuing me.”

Last week, Pakistan Army rescued three foreign mountaineers from Ecuador, Holland, and Singapore who were attempting to scale K2. Two of the foreigners fell whilst attempting to summit the mountain while a third fell ill due to high-altitude sickness.