Slovenian mountaineer rescued from Karakoram range: ISPR

Published July 14, 2015
Slovenian climber,  Kajetan Rock Decman was part of seven-member expedition of the Karakoram mountain range.— Dawn.com/file
Slovenian climber, Kajetan Rock Decman was part of seven-member expedition of the Karakoram mountain range.— Dawn.com/file

ISLAMABAD: A Slovenian mountaineer, suffering from high altitude sickness, was rescued from the Karakoram mountain range by a Pakistan Army Aviation helicopter on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

"Mr Kajetan Rock Decman, a Slovenian climber who fell sick during an expedition in the Karakoram mountain range at a height of about 6,000 metres, was rescued by army aviation helicopters yesterday," the ISPR statement said.

Read: Ailing US mountaineer rescued from K2 base camp

The statement further said that Mr Rock was part of seven-member expedition of the Karakoram mountain range. When the expedition reached the international hiking and altitude expedition camp (IHEC) at 6,000 M, the moutaineer began suffering from a bout of high altitude sickness.

His team sent a rescue request to the army which immediately responded by sending helicopters to save the mountaineer's life.

The ISPR statement added that the Slovenian climber has been evacuated to Skardu where his condition is reported as stable.

Also read: Slovenian rescued from ‘killer mountain’

At high altitudes oxygen levels are low, the pressure of air is one third of that at sea level, wind speed is very high, and temperature drops very rapidly. These factors make breathing and movement difficult, easily lead to frostbite and make a person get tired easily.

High altitude sickness is a life-threatening condition characterised by thickening of blood and death of brain cells caused due to oxygen deprivation.

As very little oxygen reaches the brain, climbers find that their minds become dull and they revert to the mental capacity of a child.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.