The body of Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan Shigri has been successfully recovered from K2, the climbing federation confirmed on Tuesday. This recovery comes a year after his tragic fall during a record-breaking ascent by other climbers.
During a night climb, Shigri fell from the notorious “Bottleneck” pass, hanging upside down from a rope before fellow climbers managed to pull him up and attempt resuscitation. Despite their efforts, Shigri succumbed to his injuries while numerous teams continued their ascent. Among these climbers were Norwegian record-holder Kristin Harila and her Nepali guide, Tenjin “Lama” Sherpa. That night, they set a new record by becoming the fastest duo to summit the world’s 14 highest peaks.
Also Read: Sultana Nasab is Third Pakistani Woman to Reach K2 Summit
After the successful retrieval of Shigri’s body, Karrar Haidri, Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said, “The rescue team made history and turned the impossible into possible.” The mission was led by Naila Kiani, a prominent Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer, with support from the Pakistan Army. Shigri’s body has been returned to his family for burial. “We want to thank Naila Kiani and the porters who did this great job. Bringing the body back was a big wish of the family,” his cousin Aslam Naz Shigri said.
An investigation by the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department revealed that Shigri was ill-prepared for high-altitude conditions, lacking sufficient clothing and experience. Despite the dangerous circumstances, some climbers attempted to save him, but it was too late. Porters, often referred to as Sherpas, are vital to mountain expeditions, yet their roles are fraught with peril. Rescue missions on K2 are exceptionally risky, often delayed for months or years due to severe weather conditions.
Standing at 28,251 feet on the Pakistan-China border, K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world and is considered more technically challenging than Everest. Pakistan boasts five of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, and this summer has seen four foreign climbers lose their lives on its mountains.
