Rescuers are moving an injured Carlos Soria down from 7,700m on Dhaulagiri. According to his home team, Soria sustained a leg injury above Camp 3 when a Sherpa fell and crashed into his shin. Partner Sita Carcavilla and some Sherpas are helping Soria down. However, it will be a tricky descent.
Journalist Alessandro Filippini reports that Polish climbers Bartek Ziemski and Oswald Pereira (who summited and skied down Dhaulagiri last weekend) have returned to help with the rescue. A helicopter airlifted them from Kathmandu and dropped them at Camp 2 on Dhaulagiri, the highest point possible because of weather conditions.
Ziemski and Pereira are carrying oxygen and will need to climb to Soria’s location before helping him down to Camp 2 for a helicopter evacuation.
Bartek Ziemski (left) and Oswald Pereira during their recent ascent on Annapurna. Photo: Oswald Rodrigo Pereira
No luck
Still climbing at the grand age of 84, Soria was attempting Dhaulagiri for the 14th time. This time, it had looked like he might make it. Climbing with Sito Carcavilla and Mikel Sherpa, he reached Camp 3 yesterday in good time. Last night, they set off for the summit.
Soria has often remarked that despite numerous retreats on big mountains, he had never needed rescue. That appears to have changed, thanks to a stroke of bad luck.
Dhaulagiri at night. Photo: Carlos Soria
