Speed climber Vadim Druelle of France fell into a crevasse near Camp 3 on Annapurna yesterday, according to climber Roman Romancini of Brazil. Sirbaz Khan of Pakistan, Migmar Dhondup Sherpa, Pasang Norbu Sherpa and at least one other unnamed Sherpa rescued him.
Romancini is part of a large group that recently completed their acclimatization round to Camp 3. In a video, Romancini describes how Druelle fell into a crevasse, but Khan and some nearby Sherpas lifted him out. He said the accident took place above Camp 3, but there is some confusion here, as Sirbaz Khan’s entourage told ExplorersWeb that Khan placed the fall below C3. We are awaiting further details.
Druelle’s hand was injured in the fall. Frame of Roman Romancini’s video
Climber safe
A difficult helicopter operation followed. Romancini explained a very experienced Swiss pilot retrieved a conscious Druelle via long line and dropped him in Base Camp.
There, Druelle received medical treatment by Jorge Egocheaga from Spain and Donatella Barbera from Italy, both medical doctors. Barbera’s Italian team reached Camp 3 last Saturday. A helicopter later airlifted Druelle to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Check Romancini’s report (in Portuguese) below:
Route not fully fixed
Earlier, Vadim Druelle had told ExplorersWeb that he planned to climb Annapurna in a single push, with minimal gear and without personal Sherpa support. The first Annapurna summits were expected during last week, but the route is only fixed until 7,600m, according to the latest report. There, the Sherpa rope fixers ran out of rope, due to difficulties finding a suitable passage among open crevasses and seracs. Leader Mingma G told ExplorersWeb that they have retreated to Base Camp until the next weather window.
Druelle, only 23, has already speed-climbed Nanga Parbat, Kangchenjunga, Manaslu, and the two Gasherbrums. On Annapurna, however, he had a close call last year when he came down with pulmonary edema at Base Camp and could not even begin. His new attempt this year coincided with the 75th anniversary of Annapurna’s first ascent by French climbers.
Vadim Druelle on his way to Nepal some days ago. Photo: Vadim Druelle/Facebook
