ISLAMABAD: German mountaineer Laura Dahlmeier has sustained serious injuries after being struck by rockfall while attempting to summit Laila Peak (6,096 metres) in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Tuesday.
Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Vice President Karrar Haidri, in a statement, said: “Former Olympic and world champion biathlete Laura Dahlmeier sustained serious injuries after being struck by a rockfall while attempting to summit Laila Peak in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.”
“The incident occurred around noon on July 28 at an altitude of approximately 5,700m. Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner, Marina Eva, when a sudden rockfall hit her, resulting in significant injuries.”
The statement noted that the expedition organiser alerted emergency services, prompting a coordinated rescue operation with assistance from Pakistan Army aviation helicopters and local high-altitude porters.
It further mentioned that rescue helicopters were unable to land at the accident site on Monday due to difficult terrain and unfavourable weather conditions.
“Efforts to evacuate Dahlmeier by air continued into July 29 with ground support teams on standby, awaiting a break in the weather,” it said.
“Marina Eva successfully descended to base camp and is reported to be in good health. Meanwhile, worsening weather continues to delay aerial access to the injured climber, leaving the rescue team prepared to respond as soon as conditions permit,” the statement said.
A press release posted on Dahlmeier’s Instagram account said that a helicopter overpass determined that she was at least “seriously injured” and “there were no signs of life”.
According to German media reports, the former biathlete is a certified mountain and ski guide, an active member of the mountain rescue team, and is regarded as an experienced and safety-conscious mountaineer.
In May 2019, she retired from competitive sports at just 25 years old. Since then, in addition to her mountaineering and climbing pursuits, Dahlmeier has also worked as a television analyst for ZDF.
Earlier this month, Czech tourist Klára Kolouchová tragically died after falling into a ravine at the Nanga Parbat base camp.
The 46-year-old was part of a multinational expedition attempting to summit the mountain. Her condition reportedly worsened at Camp 4, prompting her to abandon the climb and begin her descent with a Nepali Sherpa, Taraman Tamang.
In a statement, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that search and rescue operation was underway for the recovery of a German climber.
He said that the search operation, with the assistance of Pakistan Army aviation helicopter, was being conducted to recover the climber.
He said that relief operations were being carried out in other flood-hit areas of GB, including Ghanche, Astore, Gilgit, and Ghizer.
The spokesperson emphasised that the province has suffered widespread destruction due to the floods and that full recovery would take time.
He said that they were still conducting operation to search the body of an anchor of a private television. He said that search and rescue operation would continue till the recovery of all the people from the area.
