Harsh Weather Halts Final Attempt
Rescue attempts for Russian mountaineer Natalia “Natasha” Nagovitsina, stranded at 22,965ft on Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan, have been cancelled after a decade of desperate rescue efforts ended in failure after ten days. The 47-year-old climber with experience, suffered a broken leg on August 12 and has been stuck on the mountain. With deteriorating weather and temperatures below zero dropping as low as minus 23°C, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the operation has been officially called off.
Rescuers attempted several times to get to her, both by air and climbing, but harsh conditions hindered progress repeatedly. A last team, led by climber Vitaly Akimov, attempted to climb but was compelled to turn back only 3,600ft shy of Nagovitsina’s location, as falling weather made the climb unsafe. “I think not, because she has been there since 12 August count how much time has passed.”. It is impossible to survive at that height,” base camp leader Dmitry Grekov said grimly, conceding the probability of her survival was low.
Heroic Sacrifice Amid Mounting Losses
The rescue mission itself became tragic when Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia, 49, who had previously successfully delivered relief items like a tent, food, and water to Nagovitsina, died due to hypothermia and oxygen deficiency on the mountain. Sinigaglia’s passing has been lamented throughout the mountaineering community, with eulogies describing him as a hero for going all out in the effort to save her.
Even the helicopters used were not exempted. A Mi-8 helicopter of the defense ministry crashed on one of its missions, injuring rescuers, while another Mi-17VM was compelled to return due to zero visibility. Grekov added that some of the rescuers were still suffering from injuries, including backache resulting from the crash, making the mission more challenging to pursue.
A Legacy of Endurance and Devotion
Nagovitsina’s experience is all the more poignant considering what she has been through before. She became an overnight global sensation in 2021 when her climber husband, Sergei Nagovitsin, had a stroke at 22,638ft. Though rescuers begged her to come down for her own well-being, she refused to leave him behind. Her radio calls with base camp were viral at the time, highlighting her strength and selflessness: “I know everything, but I will not leave him alone,” she insisted.
Although Sergei did perish on the mountain and his body was never discovered, Nagovitsina’s bravery and devotion resonated throughout the world. One year later, she went back to Khan Tengri to place a plaque there in his memory, indicating her strength and determination.
Her most recent tragedy on Victory Peak now adds yet another ghostly chapter to her life. Whether or not she survived the last few days is unknown, but her name will live forever in the annals of mountaineers for bravery, tenacity, and the agonizing sacrifices she made in the mountains she loved.
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