A daring crowd-funded rescue mission saw French mountaineer Elisabeth Revol rescued from Nanga Parbat, Pakistan's “Killer Mountain.". A Pakistani Army helicopter flew Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko to the base camp of Nanga Parbat and they raced up the mountain to rescue Elizabeth.
Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko with Elizabeth Revol at rescue
(Adam Bielecki- Facebook)
Timeline of Events
January 25th
Tomek Mackiewicz and Elizabeth had just climbed the 8,126 metre (26,660 feet) high Nanga Parbat in winter and were climbing down from the summit by the Kinshofer route.
Nanga Parbat 2016 Expedition image
Tomek was hit by altitude sickness, frostbite and snow blindness on the way back. Elizabeth sent an emergency radio message asking for help. The pair were climbing alpine-style, they had no tent and were also low on supplies.
January 26th
Masha Gordon started a crowdfunding campaign to raise €150,000 to rescue the duo. The campaign was trending on the internet and quickly raised over €80,000 for the helicopters. French and Polish diplomats helped organise rescue through the Pakistan Army.
Meanwhile on the mountain, Elizabeth helped Tomek climb down to 7280m and set him up in a tent to spend the night until rescuers could get to them. Staying with him would have meant certain death for her. She continued her descent without a tent and communicated with her team from 6671m.
January 27th
At 5 am, Elizabeth texted her home team from 6700m on the mountain. Her message read, "I am OK, very thirsty and hungry."
Pakistan Army rescue helicopters picked up climbers Denis Urubko, Adam Bielecki, Piotr Tomala and high altitude medical specialist Jarosław Bator. They returned to Skardu, refuelled and were dropped at the base camp of Nanga Parbat, about 4900m. The helicopter dropped off the rescuers with great difficulty after several attempts and were unable to return that day.From base camp Denis and Adam went up the mountain, the tracker image shows their progress until 5850m.
January 28th
Adam and Denis climbed above the Kinshofer Wall and crossed 6000m constantly updating their home teams.
Kinshofer Wall on Nanga Parbat
Elisabeth was able to get the last juice out of her satellite phone battery and send a message around 21:00 hrs local time, saying "I keep going down". Her team had already arranged for her treatment at the base camp and to a hospital in Islamabad and onto France.
Elizabeth was met by Denis Urubko and Adam Bielecki met Elisabeth near Camp 2 at 6100m. After learning of the condition Tomek was in when she saw him last (he was heavily frostbitten on the hands legs and face, disoriented and unable to move independently) the rescuers decided to focus on saving Elizabeth. Adam and Denis had also climbed with light backpacks and no tent, to climb quicker. After a tough climb in extreme weather, going up further to rescue Tomek was too dangerous with windspeed above 80km/h.
They decided to climb down to Camp 2 where Piotr Tomala and Jarosław Bator awaited with medical supplies. After a four hour rest, they continued on their way down, lowering Elizabeth down with ropes most of the way. Rescue helicopters arrived at 12 pm and finally at 1:30 pm the rescue team and Elizabeth Revol were flown to Skardu.
Tomek still remains unaccounted for and conditions were too difficult and dangerous for a rescue attempt.
Source
- [Masha Gordon Fundraiser on Gofundme]
(https://www.gofundme.com/rescue-on-nanga-parbat)