Pakistan’s iconic mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who along with Iceland’s John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr Prieto, had gone missing about two weeks ago during their attempt to scale the world’s second-highest peak K2, has been declared as presumed dead.
In the face of treacherous mountainous weather, Pakistan mounted a search for the three climbers after February 5, when they were last reported to be in contact.
But low visibility around the cloud-covered peak, known as the Savage Mountain for the number of climbers who have died attempting to summit it, disrupted Pakistan Army’s helicopter rescue mission.
Sajid Sadpara, his son an ace climber himself, was with the three climbers in their daring attempt to surmount the peak in the wintry weather, gave up ascent as his oxygen regulator malfunctioned.
Candle light at Hassan Sadpara Chowk Skardu in memory of Muhammad Ali Sadpara, John Sneri and JP Mohr.#K2winter2021 #climbers #k2 #memory #JohnSnorri #JPMohr #karakorum #GilgitBaltistan #pakistan pic.twitter.com/E8CYPti6Py
— Alpine Adventure Guides (@Alpine_Pakistan) February 19, 2021
Pakistani rescuers used a variety of ways including satellite images, SAR technology, and testimonials and timings to locate the missing mountaineers but there was no trace of them.
For days, the Pakistani nation hoped against hope to get news about the safety of the adventurous climbers but the passage of time dimmed the prospects of their being alive in the massive frozen region.
“My family and I have lost a kindhearted person and the Pakistani nation has lost a brave and great adventurous individual who was passionate about the Pakistani flag to the point of insanity,” Sajid Sadpara said.
Muhammad Ali Sadpara gained international spotlight and respect among followers of the highly skilled adventurous sport for his record achievements.
He surmounted eight of the 14 mountains taller than eight thousand meters.
