PESHAWAR, Pakistan — German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died on a mountain in northern Pakistan after a climbing accident at distant website that rescuers struggled to succeed in due to dangerous climate, an area authorities spokesman stated Wednesday.
Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medalist, was ascending Laila Peak within the Karakoram mountain vary on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks whereas climbing with a accomplice who survived.
Rescuers have been in a position to verify Dahlmeier’s demise on Wednesday however not retrieve the physique due to unfavorable climate, stated Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan authorities.
Any last resolution on retrieving the physique would observe the desires of Dahlmeier’s household, Faraq stated. An announcement on Dalhmeier’s Instagram web page stated it had been her want that no person danger their life to get better her physique after an accident.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier provided his condolences to Dahlmeier’s dad and mom, writing that she “was an distinctive sportswoman.” He recalled that he offered her with the best honor on German sport, the Silver Laurel Leaf, shortly after she received her first Olympic gold medal in 2018.
“Laura Dahlmeier was an envoy for our nation on the earth, a job mannequin for peaceable, cheerful and truthful coexistence throughout borders,” he stated.
Authorities launched the rescue mission Monday after receiving a misery sign from Dahlmeier’s climbing accomplice, Marina Eva, who managed to descend to base camp with assist from rescuers Tuesday.
Dahlmeier’s accomplice had tried for a number of hours to rescue her, however that wasn’t attainable due to the tough terrain and protracted rockfall, the assertion on Dahlmeier’s Instagram web page stated. “Her accomplice, who might now not hear any indicators of life, finally determined to go away the hazard zone and resume her descent,” based on the assertion.
It was Dahlmeier’s categorical want “that in a case like this, nobody ought to danger their life to get better her,” the assertion stated, calling for that want to be revered. It stated Dahlmeier’s household thank the rescue staff and climbers, who did their finest to make her rescue attainable.
Our bodies of overseas climbers who die trying to summit mountains in Pakistan are usually recovered on the request of their households, but when the household declines a rescue, the stays are left on the spot the place the climber died.
Dahlmeier was injured at an altitude of about 5,700 meters (18,700 ft) round midday Monday, based on her administration staff in Germany.
Dahlmeier had been within the area with associates for the reason that finish of June. The 6,069-meter Laila Peak was the second peak on her tour after she climbed the 6,287-meter Nice Trango Tower on July 8.
Army helicopters have been on standby to help in any rescue however have been unable to deploy due to dangerous climate, Faraq stated. Climbers together with two Individuals have been trying the identical ascent accomplished by Dahlmeier to attempt to be part of the rescue operation, he stated.
Dahlmeier received seven gold, three silver and 5 bronze medals at Biathlon World Championships, together with 20 World Cup races and the general World Cup within the 2016-17 season, based on her web site.
She received gold medals within the dash and pursuit races on the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 and the bronze medal within the particular person competitors.
Dahlmeier ended her biathlon profession in 2019, when she was 25. She grew up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen within the German Alps and turned to mountaineering challenges after ending her biathlon profession. She had been a state-certified mountain and ski information since 2023 and volunteered for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue staff.
Tons of of climbers try to scale mountains in northern Pakistan yearly and accidents are widespread due to avalanches and sudden climate modifications.
The area has additionally been battered by above-normal seasonal rains, triggering flash floods and landslides. Since final week, no less than 20 Pakistani vacationers have been lacking after floodwaters swept them away close to the northern district of Chilas.
___
Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Related Press author Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.