French climber dies on Mount Kanchenjunga, British adventurer being rescued
One climber perishes while another is saved in a dramatic turn of events on the world’s third-highest peak.
A French climber has died, and a British adventurer is being rescued from high on Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak, according to expedition organizers.
Margareta Morin, 63, died on Saturday morning at an altitude of 7,800 meters (25,590 feet) while attempting to summit Kanchenjunga, confirmed Yogendra Tamang of Peak 15 Adventure, the expedition’s organizer.
"She collapsed at an altitude of 7,800 meters and lost consciousness immediately during her summit push," Tamang said. "It was impossible to rescue her with just the guide and support staff at that altitude."
This was Morin’s first attempt at an 8,000-meter peak. She was climbing alongside another French mountaineer, Catherine Vulliez. Despite the initial plan to summit on May 8, unfavorable weather delayed their attempt. The pair proceeded on May 9, with Vulliez reaching the summit, but Morin did not.
Tamang said that efforts are underway to recover Morin’s body, with the French Embassy in Kathmandu and her family already informed.
In a separate incident, a British climber, Adrian Michael Hayes, is being rescued after falling ill above Camp IV during his descent. Hayes, a renowned British adventurer, is a former British Army Gurkha Officer and Special Forces member known for record-setting expeditions, including summits of Everest and K2 and treks to both the North and South Poles.
Mount Kanchenjunga, which rises to 8,586 meters (28,169 feet), is located in eastern Nepal, near the borders with India and Tibet. Known for its remote location and technical difficulty, it is considered one of the most challenging of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters.
According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, 75 fee-paying climbers from seven expedition teams, including 18 women, are attempting to summit Kanchenjunga this season.
