Drama on Nanga Parbat, fears for Tomek Mackiewicz and Elisabeth Revol

28/01/2018
All updates on the page 'Nanga Parbat: relentless rescue efforts continue for Elizabeth Revol and Tomek Mackiewicz'

27/01/2018
All updates on the page 'Nanga Parbat, rescue operation in full swing for Tomek Mackiewicz and Elisabeth Revol'

Update at 20:30 on 26/01/2018
Depending on the size of 2 helicopters, either 4 or 5 men will fly from K2 to Nanga Parbat. Adam Bielecki, Denis Urubko, Jarek Botor and Piotr Tomala will fly and, if possible, so will Marek Chmielarski. Pick up time from K2 base camp is estimated at 8.00 am Pakistan Standard Time and the flight is expected to last 1 hour circa, weather conditions permitting. Mackiewicz is reported to be in a tent at circa 7280m, while Revol should be at around 6670m.

Update at 16:30 on 26/01/2018
The Polish expedition coordinating the rescue mission has confirmed that tomorrow morning two helicopters will fly to K2 base camp to pick up equipment and four climbers: Adam Bielecki, Piotr Tomala, Jarek Botor and Marek Chmielarski. The helicopters will transport the climbers to the Nanga Parbat Diamir face and start the rescue operation. According to Pakistan Mountain News, Revol has continued her descent to 6670m and has been informed about tomorrow’s planned rescue operation. There is no news about Mackiewicz position and the weather forecast is terrible.

Published at 12:50 on 26/01/2018
These are dramatic hours high up on the slopes of Nanga Parbat for Poland’s Tomek Mackiewicz and France’s Elisabeth Revol who for the last few weeks have been attempting to climb this Pakistani giant in winter. The two mountaineers have been doggedly attempting to realise their dream of climbing the ninth highest mountain in the world in winter, regardless of the fact that the first winter ascent was carried out in 2016 by Simone Moro, Ali Sadpara and Alex Txikon in 2016.

After a period of acclimatisation, about ten days ago the pair set off on their summit push. After sleeping at 7300 meters they planned to climb to the 8125m high summit yesterday, Thursday 26 January, and although they were spotted close to the top by their liaison officer in base camp, it is unclear whether they succeeded in reaching the highest point. For seeming endless hours there was no news from the two alpinists, and as a result of this lack of information many began to become concerned for their wellbeing.

This morning Janusz Majer, who is coordinating the Polish winter expedition to K2, announced he had received a message from France informing him that Revol and Mackiewicz were stuck at an altitude of 7,400 meters, below the top dome. Apparently 42-year-old Mackiewicz has developed snowblindness and has suffered frostbite, and a rescue operation has been organised that will transport four climbers currently attempting to scale K2 in winter to Nanga Parbat. These should include the formidable mountaineers Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko. A fund-raising campaign was launched immediately to deal with the costs of this rescue operation, and a few minutes ago the Polish Minister for Sport and Tourism Witold Bańka tweeted that his government will cover the costs of the rescue operation.

Several sources have confirmed that a helicopter has left Skardu to transport the rescuers from K2 Base Camp to Nanga Parbat. The plan is to fly them up onto the Diamir side of the mountain tomorrow morning and first help Revol, then Mackiewic. Darkness is about to fall on Pakistan. According to the latest - fortunately good - news, Mackiewicz and Revol are descending slowly and they may possibly be at an altitude of 7200 meters. The hope is that they continue to descend as much as possible on their own, despite the 12 days they have already spent at high altitude alone on the mountain.