Sherpas bring injured Polish climber down to Broad Peak Camp 1

GILGIT: Three Nepalese Sherpas successfully brought down Polish climber Waldemar Kowalewski, who was injured at Broad Peak (8051m), to Camp 1 on Sunday evening, according to the outfitter and Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

Kowalewski had suffered a broken leg in an avalanche between Camp 2 and Camp 3 on Friday and remained stranded at approximately 6,500 meters for over 48 hours.

The Polish climber had the accident when he was trying to get off C3 with his team, after spending three nights in C3 acclimating, when the weather changed. The avalanche occurred during his descent amid unstable snow conditions after bad weather forced the team to delay their summit plans.

Lela Peak Expeditions, who were organizing the expedition, hired the Nepalese Sherpas after failing to find anyone in Broad Peak’s base camp willing to perform a rescue on foot and Askari Aviation refused to airlift the Polish climber from that height.

After hours of careful navigation through avalanche-prone terrain, the team reached Camp 1 (5,600m) in fading daylight. Kowalewski with his climbing partner Jarek Lukaszewski waited in a tent since the accident until the Sherpas reached them.

“We are relieved to share that the rescue team, after reaching Waldemar, has now successfully descended to Camp 1,” ACP Vice President Karrar Haidri told HUM News English.

He said the team was proceeding with utmost care and determination to ensure Waldemar’s safe return.

Moreover, Haidri said additional rescue team members have been dispatched to the advanced base camp (ABC) and beyond to support the Sherpas. “It is hoped that by late evening today, they will all reach Base Camp,” he added.

NO AIRLIFIT

Anwar Syed from Lela Peak Expeditions said that team members from the base camp had been sent up to help with the rescue operations. He said the team was fully insured with Global Rescue that would  cover the helicopter costs, but not the ground rescue team.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Askari Aviation told them that there was no landing space at that height due to which they couldn’t operate an airlift, however they would do some from the base camp.

“Hopefully, the rescue teams will bring Kowalewski down to Base Camp today and if weather remained suitable, Askari Aviation’s helicopter will lift him to Skardu,” he added.