ISLAMABAD: Two British mountaineers were rescued early on Sunday and transported to Skardu along with the body of their teammate who was killed the previous day.

Timothy Miller and Bruce Normand were stranded in Camp II (5,900 metres) on the Ultar Peak in Hunza Valley after a large piece of a glacier fell on their tent, killing their expedition member Christian Huber from Austria.

The two British climbers were lucky to have escaped unhurt, said tour operator Abdul Karim, who was managing the three-member expedition on the 7,338 metre high Ultar Peak.

Abdul Karim told Dawn on Sunday that two army helicopters flew in at 6.45am to airlift the climbers.

“The body of the deceased was brought to the military hospital in Gilgit. The surviving climbers returned to Skardu to pick up their gear to head home,” said Mr Karim.

The aerial rescue cost $15, 000, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP).

ACP secretary Karrar Haidri told Dawn that Ultar Sar was not one of the highest peaks in the Karakoram Range, yet it was known for its dramatic rise over the famous Altit and Baltit forts in Karimabad, Hunza. “It is also recognised by the striking rising needle like spire called the Lady Finger,” he said.

“The perception that Utlar is unconquerable has added to the appeal of this peak and climbers from around the world seldom take on the challenge,” Mr Haidri said, adding that the Ultar Peak had seen few successful summits but claimed a number of lives over the years.

After three South Koreans were hit and severely injured by an avalanche last month while climbing Latok One, this is the second accident where an avalanche claimed the life of a mountaineer.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2018