Elisabeth Revol has been found! Adam (Bielecki) and Denis (Urubko) reached her a moment ago. They are preparing the evacuation operation and will be lowering her on ropes to the camp, where Jarek (Jarosław Bator) and Piotrek (Piotr Tomala) are waiting .
Elisabeth Revol has been found! Adam (Bielecki) and Denis (Urubko) reached her a moment ago. They are preparing the evacuation operation and will be lowering her on ropes to the camp, where Jarek (Jarosław Bator) and Piotrek (Piotr Tomala) are waiting - announced at 2.52 local time (4.52 EST) Michal Leksinski, the spokesman for the Polish Winter K2 Expedition. Climbers reached her in a record time. Unfortunately, it seems that Nang Parbat took Tomasz Mackiewicz forever.
Sprinters on Nanga Parbat
It was predicted that Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko were to reach Elisabeth Revol around 6 am local time, but they managed to find her 8 hours sooner! At an unimaginable pace, climbers raced 1,250 meters along the Kinshofer route, as they would like to make up time lost with flight from K2 to Nanga Parbat delay. Helicopters with a rescue team landed at 4,850 meters above sea level. From there, two climbers - Adam and Denis - went up to the wall. They have protection of their colleagues staying in the camp.
Revol was found at an altitude of 6000-6100 meters. Her hand and legs are frostbitten. She cannot walk, not even ride down the ropes alone. Climbers must transport her to the camp. This action should take them about 4-5 hours.
The highest price for success
Unfortunately, Tomasz Mackiewicz will not return from this trip. For the seventh time he stood up against the mountain, he didn't want to give up its summit, and this time he achieved his goal. On Thursday, January 25, together with Elisabeth, they stood on the top of Nanga Parbat. However, during the descent his health deteriorated rapidly. Snow blindness and frostbites made it impossible for him to move further down. Revol confirmed that she had brought her partner to an altitude of about 7,200 meters above sea level and left him in a tent.
In the race with the time of the rescue operation, not only the condition of the climbers in need was taken into account, but also the weather conditions allowing for climbing. The forecasts were not optimistic from the beginning and unfortunately they were confirmed.
Around 4.30 am local time Ludovic Giambiasi, Elisabeth's friend, who is in constant contact with the rescuers, posted: "Decision of the rescue team: [...] The rescue for Tomasz is not possible - because of the weather and altitude. It would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger. It's a terrible and painful decision. We are in deep sadness. All our thoughts go out to Tomek's (Tomasz) family and friends. We are crying."
The Polish Winter Himalayan Program confirmed this report in the statement:
"The Embassy of Poland in Pakistan organizes a helicopter tomorrow morning (about 10 am). The helicopter will take Elisabeth and four climbers to Skardu. [...]Weather conditions prevent further rescue action."
From Skardu, Revol will fly to Islamabad. The four rescuers will return to the base on K2 to continue their first winter expedition.
At the end let me recall a quote of Tomasz Mackiewicz from one of his interviews answering the question "How much can you sacrifice for the mountains?" His answer has become particularly relevant in the current situation: "This is a question that you might as well ask in this way: how much we can sacrifice for life? We can, of course, live cautiously, paying attention to our every move; dedicate our lives as little as possible to this life. And I accepted the version that I give everything I have, everything what I can give. "
Nanga Parbat's Peli pardoned Elisabeth but
Tomasz will stay with her on their mountain unless miracle happens.