British mountaineers rescued from deadly Pakistan avalanche at 19,000ft
Two British mountaineers have been rescued by helicopter from a remote peak in Pakistan after their Austrian climbing partner was killed when an avalanche hit the trio.
Bruce Normand and Timothy Miller were ferried to safety by the army after being stranded by bad weather at more than 19,000ft.
Their companion, Christian Huber, died when the avalanche hit their tent during a storm on Ultar Sar near Hunza in north east Pakistan.
Mr Normand and Mr Miller were reported to be safe and uninjured. Both were photographed standing alongside their rescuers soon after they were brought down.
Photographs showed a helicopter landing on a narrow snow-covered ridge during the rescue. Thomas Drew, Britain's High Commissioner in Pakistan, said the mission had been “remarkable and dangerous”.
He said: “Our gratitude to the Pakistan Army pilots who rescued two British climbers trapped by an avalanche on Ultar Sar Peak near Hunza. Our thoughts with their Austrian fellow climber who did not survive the avalanche.”
Abdul Karim, manager of the tour company organising the men's trip, said the Britons were now going to Gilgit and would travel to the capital, Islamabad, later in the week.
He said: “There are no injuries, they are safe.”
Pakistan's army said the trio had been climbing at 19,300ft when they were struck by the avalanche on Friday. The first rescue request was received on Saturday morning, but bad weather meant army helicopters could not reach the stranded men. A helicopter was finally able to get through at 6.45am on Sunday morning.
Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, spokesman for the military, described it as a “daring mission”.
Ultar Sar is described on mountaineering websites as a difficult and dangerous mountain to climb where there is a significant risk of avalanches.
The 24,239 ft mountain at the end of the Batura Muztagh sub range was only climbed for the first time in 1996.
Pakistan has some of the world's highest peaks and is a regular destination for intrepid climbers.
Mr Normand, a Switzerland-based theoretical physicist, is a highly experienced climber who has scaled some of the highest peaks in the country.
The three-member expedition started in late May and was permitted to go till the first week of July. The team was being managed by Higher Ground Expeditions, a tour operating company in Hunza Valley.
