Injured Climber Rescued From Crevasse on Annapurna

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 and at least three Nepalese climbers in the area 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.

Close shot of a climber's hand, injured in a fall in a crevasse on Annapurna.

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.

Close shot of Vadim Druelle dressed casually at an airport.

Vadim Druelle on his way to Nepal some days ago. Photo: Vadim Druelle/Facebook

Angela Benavides

Angela Benavides graduated university in journalism and specializes in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition news. She has been writing about climbing and mountaineering, adventure and outdoor sports for 20+ years.

Prior to that, Angela Benavides spent time at/worked at a number of local and international media. She is also experienced in outdoor-sport consultancy for sponsoring corporations, press manager and communication executive, and a published author.