Laura Dahlmeier of Germany did not survive after being hit by falling rocks while climbing Laila Peak in the Karakoram.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time world champion in biathlon had focused on alpinism since 2019.
Accident details
Dahlmeier’s home team has issued a press release that states that the accident took place on Monday, as the 31-year-old Dahlmeier and partner Marina Krauss were descending from the summit of 6,069m Laila Peak in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley. They were rappelling at 5,700m when a rope maneuver caused a rockfall that hit Dahlmeier.
Krauss, also from Germany, was unharmed and immediately sent an SOS message. She also tried for many hours to reach her partner, but the difficult terrain and the risk of further rockfall thwarted her attempts. Eventually, in the middle of the night, Krauss decided to retreat from the dangerous area and continued rappelling down the dagger-sharp mountain to Base Camp.
Laila Peak. Photo: Wikipedia
In the morning of July 29, the pilots of a helicopter deployed by the Pakistan army spotted Dahlmeier but saw no signs of life from her. An aerial rescue was no option due to technical reasons, including bad weather. According to Faizullah Firaq, a spokesman for the regional government of Gilgit-Baltistan, the ground rescue team reached the location of her body and confirmed her death.
No retrieval
Based on the report of the helicopter pilots and the description of Dahlmeier’s injuries by her climbing partner, it is assumed that Dahlmeier died instantly.
“The recovery of the body would involve a high risk for the rescue services under the current conditions, with constant rockfall and sudden weather changes on Laila Peak, and is not possible at all,” Dahlmeier’s home team reported.
No further attempts will be made, as Dahlmeier’s entourage has clearly stated.
It was Laura’s written will that, in a case like this, no one should risk their lives to rescue her. Her wish in such a case was for her body to be left on the mountain. Her relatives also asked to respect Laura’s last wish.
Gone too early
The family and loved ones have thanked all the members who did their best in the rescue attempts, and shared a farewell message on social media:
Laura enriched the lives of many, including our own, with her warm and straightforward manner. She showed us that it’s worth standing up for your dreams and goals and always staying true to yourself. We are deeply grateful, dear Laura, that we were allowed to share our lives with you.
Picture chosen by Laura Dahlmeier’s family to bid her farewell. Photo: Facebook
Star career
Laura Dahlmeier was born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and was among the best female biathletes of all time. She was a seven-time world champion and a two-time Olympic champion in that discipline. In 2019, at age 25, she quit professional sport and focused on alpinism and ski touring, although she kept following biathlon races and was a commentator on the sport for German television.
As a climber, she became a certified mountaineering and ski teacher and collaborated with rescue services in the German mountains. In 2023, she climbed Pik Khorgenevskaia and the east face of Warzmann Tower in the Pamir/Tien Shan with Thomas Huber. In the Himalaya, she bagged the women’s FKT (fastest known time) on Ama Dablam last fall. This year, she climbed the North Face of the Eiger.
Laura Dahlmeier’s Facebook profile highlights her Olympic successes.
