Difficult hours for Poles on Broad Peak first winter ascent

"Considering all the circumstances, conditions, my experience, history of Himalayan mountaineering, knowledge regarding physiology and high-altitude medicine as well as consultations with doctors and co-organizers of the expedition in Poland, I have to declare Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski dead.
Taking into account the time that has passed since the last contact, altitude where it took place, their condition, current weather conditions and all other factors, I have to claim openly that both climbers are dead.
The expedition has come to an end. We are packing the base camp and start to descend. March via the Baltoro Glacier will take approximately 5 days. We will come back to Poland on approximately 20th March. Due to lack of electricity, we will not have any possibilities to maintain contact via telephones or e-mails and thus, the will not be any information about us till approximately 15th March."

Krzysztof Wielicki - Leader of the winter expedition of Polish Mountaineering Association to Broad Peak

Update on 07/03/2013 at 10:10
According to the Polish TV channel tvn24 which followed the tragic turn of events on Broad Peak, there has been no contact with the two mountaineers Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski, reported missing since Wednesday morning. Artur Małek and Kerim Nayyat, who began their descent yesterday afternoon, reached Base Camp last night. Fortunately both Małek and his summit partner Adam Bielecki are in good condition and have no frostbite. Currently visibility is good: all eyes (and the expedition telescope) and pinned on the descent route and Camp IV has been left established 7400m. Hope remains. But in an interview with the radio station RMF FM expedition leader Krzysztof Wielicki stated that on the basis of his experience: "There is no chance. It's difficult... Very difficult..."

Update on 06/03/2013 at 19:00
According to what has just been published by founder of the Polish Winter Himalaism program Artur Hajzer on Facebook, Adam Bielecki has already reached Base Camp together with Pakistani mountaineer Shaheen Amin. Artur Małek and the other Pakistan mountaineer Kerim Nayyat will not spend the night at Camp IV as previously stated but are currently descending and should already be below 700m. Unfortunately there is still no news about Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski, reported missing since this morning.

Update on 06/03/2013 at 16:36
Latest update from Poland: Adam Bielecki is descending. Krzysztof Wielicki has decided that Artur Małek and Kerim Nayyat (Pakistani mountaineer, Editor’s note) will stay at Camp 4 for another night to wait for the missing climbers. The last radio contact with Berbeka was made at 3 in the morning. The weather forecast for tomorrow is still bad so everyone should descend to below 7000m before 10 am.

Update on 06/03/2013 at 11:18
The news which comes from Broad Peak is still fragmented but the situation seems to have worsened. This is latest update sent to us from our colleagues from the Polish magazine Gory: Unfortunately at present there is no information about Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski. One of Pakistan climbers (probably one who was in Camp II) managed to ascend to 7600m but he didn't see them and didn't find their traces. The situation is really bad as a storm is expected for tomorrow, so everybody should go down as soon as possible today. There are still only few pieces of information to go by but apparently the situation is dramatic." This was confirmed by the founder of the Polish Winter Himalaism program Artur Hajzer who, according to information published on www.explorersweb.com, stated "We have to consider two of the four Polish climbers who conquered Broad Peak, missing."
After having reached the summit yesterday Artur Małek and Adam Bielecki had managed to descend to Campo 4 at 7400m while Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski (the two mountaineers considered missing) were forced to spend the night at 7900m, on the col between Broad Peak central and the pre-summit: a terrible place for a bivy. The situation is confused at present and the only thing one can do is wait...

Published on 06/03/2013 at 10:00
After having reached the summit of Broad Peak yesterday, the two Polish mountaineers Artur Małek and Adam Bielecki managed to descend to their Camp IV at 7400m where they spent the night, while their climbing partners Tomasz Kowalski and Maciej Berbeka were forced to bivouak at the Col at 7900m.

According to the latest information, broadcast via radio in Poland circa half an hour ago, Berbeka is currently descending towards Campo IV while there is unfortunately no news about Kowalski. It is clear that these are very delicate and dramatic hours and that the situation is by no means easy. The thoughts of all alpinists are up there with them, and we continue to hope…

The official expedition website: polishwinterhimalaism.pl

05/03/2013 - Broad Peak first winter ascent by Polish expedition!
07/03/2013 - Simone Moro, the drama on Broad Peak and winter mountaineering in the Himalaya
08/03/2013 - Broad Peak: all hope lost for Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski