A well-known Slovak mountaineer died after attempting the difficult east face of the world’s 99th highest peak, according to his climbing partner.
Ondrej Huserka, who has climbed the Alps, Patagonia, and Pamir mountain ranges, fell into a crevasse last week while descending Nepal’s 7,234m Langtang Lirung peak.
His Czech climbing partner, Marek Holecek, confirmed the 34-year-old’s death in a Facebook post on November 2. When the tragedy struck, the duo was on their way down from the “terrifying” east face of Langtang Lirung, which was their first ascent.
Mr Holecek said they began their descent around 4 p.m. local time on October 31. “Ondra descended after me. “What was fine with me proved fatal for him,” he wrote.
Huserka’s rope snapped, and he fell into an ice crevasse and hit an angled surface after an 8m drop, according to Mr Holecek, who added that his partner “continued down a labyrinth into the depths of the glacier”.
“I rappelled down to him and stayed with him for four hours until his light faded.”
Mr Holeck stated that he heard his partner scream for help: “Pull me out, please.” After freeing Huserka, he discovered that his partner was paralysed.
“He couldn’t feel his legs, and his arms were paralyzed.” “His responses and awareness were completely confused,” Mr Holeck continued. “His star was fading as he lay in my arms…” “It lasted hours.”
SHS James, a Slovak climbers’ association, requested rescue assistance but said helicopters could not take off due to bad weather. “It will not happen in the coming days,” the group wrote on social media.
“Following a phone call with Marek Holecek and his status published yesterday, and given the weather conditions under Langtang Lirung, the family and friends will have to cope with the fact that Ondrej is not with us any more,” according to the statement.
“Humble and great friend, top mountaineer, it is not an exaggeration to say world-class, gone prematurely.”
