"At Least 15 Ignored Rescue" Russian Mountaineer Reveals Kim Hong-bin's Last Appearance

Photo by deathzonefreeride Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Amid ongoing search efforts to rescue Captain Kim Hong-bin (57), who went missing while descending after becoming the first disabled person to summit Broad Peak (8047m) and complete all 14 Himalayan peaks, testimony has emerged from a Russian mountaineer involved in the rescue operation claiming that other climbers nearby ignored Kim’s calls for help.

Vitaly Razo (48), a Russian climber who was the first to respond to Kim’s distress call, publicly criticized the climbers who witnessed the scene but did not assist, via social media (SNS).

On the 24th (local time), Razo posted a photo taken with Kim 10 minutes before the accident on the Instagram account of his group, Deathzonefreeride, stating, “At least 15 climbers saw Kim’s situation but just passed by.”

He said, “You may be brave people and heroes who have conquered 8000m peaks on SNS,” but added, “I would say you are pathetic and worthless people who have lost your humanity.” He continued, “The desire to reach the summit causes underprepared tourists to cross difficult terrain at night. Such people fail to turn back at the right point. Then they cause problems not only for themselves but also for others.”

Razo posted a report explaining Kim’s accident and the rescue process on the Russian mountaineering site ‘risk.ru’. He said that when he met Kim, Kim repeatedly said he was “tired.” Razo tried to rescue Kim using a jumar (ascender), but there was a problem with the jumar, and ultimately Kim fell down the cliff.

He admitted, “If I did not have the strength to rescue disabled Kim, I acknowledge that,” but criticized, “I do not understand why the accident was not reported.” He added, “Even if rescue was not possible, at least the accident situation should have been reported via radio or InReach (a rescue signaling device).” He also expressed regret over the response of female climber Anastasia Runova, who was stranded in the same area but rescued earlier.

Razo said, “Unfortunately, modern heroic climbers lack morality,” and added, “It is not the mountain that is dangerous, but the people.”