Laura Dahlmeier, the German Olympic gold medalist and former biathlete, tragically lost her life in a landslide while attempting to summit Laila Peak in northern Pakistan.
The accident occurred earlier this week when Dahlmeier, 30, was struck by a rockfall during her climb of the 6,096-meter mountain.
Dahlmeier was part of an expedition that included her climbing partner, Marina Eva. The German climbers were caught in the landslide in the Hushy Valley, Ghanche district.
Following the incident, the local government launched an extensive rescue operation. Marina Eva was successfully rescued on Tuesday, as confirmed by Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government.
Known for her remarkable achievements in biathlon, Laura Dahlmeier made history at the Winter Olympics. She became the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at a single Games. After her successful career in biathlon, Dahlmeier retired from professional sports in 2019.
This tragic event is part of a series of fatal incidents in Pakistan’s mountainous regions. Just days earlier, a Czech climber died in a fall near the Nanga Parbat base camp.
This peak, notorious for its dangers, is often referred to as Pakistan’s “Killer Mountain.” Additionally, Pakistani mountaineer Iftikhar Hussain Sadpara lost his life earlier this month in an avalanche on K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
Heavy monsoon rains in the region have worsened the situation. These rains have caused widespread flooding and landslides in northern Pakistan, making rescue operations even more challenging.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported at least 288 deaths due to rain and flood-related incidents this monsoon season.
Laura Dahlmeier’s death is a devastating loss to the mountaineering and sports communities, where she was widely admired for her achievements.
In other news read more about Pakistani Climber Dies in Avalanche During K2 Expedition
