Helicopter Damaged and Rescuers Killed in Attempt to Save Climber Stranded at 7,000 Meters

Rescue Operation Halted After Ten Days Due to Severe Weather
Rescuer Dies During Mission and Helicopter Damaged

A Russian woman became stranded at an altitude of 7,000 meters after suffering a leg fracture, and the search operation for her was halted after ten days due to severe weather conditions. On August 23 (local time), the UK’s Daily Mail reported that Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsyna was stranded on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan on the 12th. Although a rescue operation was launched, the official search was called off due to persistent bad weather and a series of casualties among the rescuers.

On the 12th, Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsyna was stranded on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan.

On the 12th, Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsyna was stranded on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan. Victory Peak stands at 7,439 meters above sea level. During her ascent, she injured her leg and became unable to move at the 7,200-meter mark. A fellow climber who was with her hurried down the mountain to call for help, which triggered a full-scale rescue operation.

The main problem was the weather conditions. When the rescue team began their mission, the temperature had dropped below minus 23 degrees Celsius, and a fierce snowstorm was raging. During the rescue attempt, Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia managed to reach Nagovitsyna and deliver a sleeping bag, tent, food, and water, raising hopes for her survival. However, all attempts to evacuate Nagovitsyna by helicopter and other means ultimately failed. To make matters worse, Sinigaglia, who had joined the rescue, died from hypoxia and hypothermia. In addition, a helicopter from the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Defense was damaged while approaching the accident site, resulting in injuries to four people, including the pilot. The climbing rescue team managed to get within one kilometer of Nagovitsyna’s location, but ultimately had to retreat due to the extreme cold.

Following these events, the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Emergency Situations officially called off the rescue operation. Just three days earlier, drone footage had shown Nagovitsyna moving, but authorities now believe her chances of survival are slim. Rescue leader Dmitry Grekov explained, “No one has ever been rescued from that spot in history.” According to local media in Kyrgyzstan, it is reported that more than 80 climbers have lost their lives at this location.