Current Events > Rescue Called Off for Woman Stranded With Broken Leg for 11 Days on Peak

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Had to abbreviate the title slightly. Full title is...

Rescue Called Off for Woman Stranded With Broken Leg for 11 Days on Himalayan Peak

Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/rescue-called-off-for-woman-stranded-with-broken-leg-for-11-days-on-himalayan-peak/ar-AA1LcjNV

TLDR: Natalia Nagovitsyna wanted to acquire the Snow Leopard title. This "honor" is bestowed on those whove climbed all five 7,000m peaks in the former USSR. She was climbing Pobeda, which is apparently the hardest of the five to climb. She broke her leg on the descent and her "inexperienced" guide provided first aid, secured her in a tent, then descended to base camp to seek help. But yeah, the help didn't come in time (a would be rescuer by the name of Luca Sinigaglia also died trying to save her) and she is almost certainly dead at this point. The rescue efforts had to be called off due to mountain conditions. This also means the end for now of searching for Luca Sinigaglia. So two people are likely dead.

I added a poll for fun. Full article text is below if you don't want to click the link.

Rescue Called Off for Woman Stranded With Broken Leg for 11 Days on Himalayan Peak
Story by Kris Annapurna 1d

Rescue efforts for Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsyna, who has been stranded for 10 days at 7,150m on Kyrgyzstans Pobeda Peak with a broken leg, were called off Friday as winds intensified and snow closed in.

The four rescuers descended to Camp 1, according to Anna Piunova of Mountain.ru. They had wanted to progress up to 6,400m today and also to search for the body of Luca Sinigaglia of Italy. He died on August 16 after trying to rescue Nagovitsyna.

But bad weather had the last word, and they had to descend, ending the rescue mission. The weather also canceled a planned helicopter flight with Italian pilots. Forecasts show poor conditions through August 2324.

Rescuers may begin a further attempt on August 25, but Nagovitsyna has already been stranded for 10 days above 7,000m, injured. Her few supplies have run out by now, and even today, there is not much hope of finding her alive.

The rescue team of Vitaly Akimov, Andrey Alipov, Sergey Krasovsky, and Andrey Novikov has been racing since August 20 to reach Nagovitsyna. The leader, Akimov, already has an injury he sustained during an early attempt to rescue Nagovitsyna on August 16, according to Elena Laletina of RussianClimb.

Inexperienced Guide
Nagovitsyna, a 47-year-old Muscovite, was a commercial client led by a guide named Roman, according to Life.ru. No one knew him at base camp, suggesting that he might have been unfamiliar with Pobedas deadly routes. During their descent on August 12, Nagovitsyna fell at the dangerous Black Rock section, breaking her leg while belaying Roman from above.

Friends called this situation absurd, arguing that a client shouldnt belay an inexperienced guide.
This mountain doesnt forgive such mistakes, said Denis Kiselev, a rescuer and instructor at the Central School of Mountaineering Instructors.

Nagovitsyna climbed despite an earlier leg fracture from a hike a year and a half ago. Her late husband, Sergey, who died of a stroke on Khan Tengri in 2021 as she stayed by his side, had warned her against Pobeda, citing its extreme physical demands. According to some sources, Luca Sinigaglia met the Russian couple at Khan Tengri in 2021, and they became friends.

Boris Dedeshko, a five-time Kazakh mountaineering champion, told KP.ru that in 2024, Nagovitsyna tried Pobeda, but her guide turned her back because she was unprepared. But a friend, Lia Popova, said she had trained hard for the Snow Leopard badge. Pobeda was her fifth 7,000m peak; she had only two left after this one.

She joined the expedition as the only woman in a mixed group. Life.ru notes Nagovitsynas insurance may not cover the $60,000 rescue cost, potentially leaving her 27-year-old son to cover much of the bill.

Increasing Pessimism
The Russian Mountaineering Federation issued stark warnings last week about the slim odds that Nagovitsyna can survive. The groups vice president, Alexander Pyatnitsyn, said: It will be almost impossible to save her, he said. Theres a three-kilometer-long ridge, and it takes at least 30 people in such a situation to rescue a person from there.

Elena Laletina from RussianClimb echoed the same thoughts to ExplorersWeb: that four or even eight rescuers arent enough to carry out such a difficult rescue, where Nagovitsyna is immobilized and cant assist.

Alexander Yakovenko of the Russian Mountaineering Federation said the rescuers themselves risk being caught in an avalanche, underscoring the perilous conditions on the mountain. Yakovenko even went so far as to describe the situation as hopeless.

If shes alive, Ill believe in a miracle, he told Pravda Greece. If she is saved, then I will believe in a miracle twice over.
Nagovitsyna came to Pobeda, also known as Jengish Chokusu, to pursue the Snow Leopard title. This old honor is bestowed on those whove climbed all five 7,000m peaks in the former USSR. By reputation, Pobeda is the hardest, and it marked her fifth summit. But on her way down on August 12, she slipped and fractured her leg. Her climbing partner, Roman, provided first aid, secured her in a tent, then descended to base camp to seek help.

RIP to the almost certainly deceased and best of luck to their families and friends.

if she survives, it'll be made into a movie

Deep Sea Diving, Mountain Climbing, Spelunking, no thank you.

Now other climbers can use her as a landmark

I mean the people who climb that high understand what they are getting themselves in to.

its crazy that they even tried to attempt rescue. It would have taken at least a dozen people to get her off of there

Big nope from me. Theres too many dangerous situations I can get into right now in the relative safety of my own home.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b0d05fab.jpg

Christ, that's the mountain climbing equivalent to a cop dying a few days from retirement.

DipDipDiver posted...

Now other climbers can use her as a landmark

It could happen. There are a few on Everest although a lot of them do end up getting moved.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Boots

Tragic and avoidable. She had a prior hiking injury, her fallen husband warned her against this trip, she was rejected by an experienced guide, and yet she still went up with an inexperienced guide. And now she's gone as well as the friend who tried to pull her out of this mess.

Charged151 posted...

This also means the end for now of searching for Luca Sinigaglia.

Luca was found dead in an ice cave, apparently: https://people.com/man-dies-trying-to-help-friend-trapped-on-25000-foot-peak-with-broken-leg-11796589

Charged151 posted...

Life.ru notes Nagovitsynas insurance may not cover the $60,000 rescue cost, potentially leaving her 27-year-old son to cover much of the bill.

Bro imagine your mom dying slowly in painful solitude and then also getting billed for thousands.

I've climbed mountains, but climbing over boulders, up ladders, etc. on hiking trails. I wouldn't do that stuff of climbing up/down huge rock walls with a pick and carabiners.

The fact that it happened on the descent sucks even more.

party_animal07 posted...

The fact that it happened on the descent sucks even more.

that's by far the most dangerous part of any mountaineering expedition

SecretBase posted...

Luca was found dead in an ice cave, apparently: https://people.com/man-dies-trying-to-help-friend-trapped-on-25000-foot-peak-with-broken-leg-11796589

The previous article confirmed he died. Wonder if his body will be retrieved at some point.

SecretBase posted...

Bro imagine your mom dying slowly in painful solitude and then also getting billed for thousands.

I thought most mountain climbers were rich to cover the huge expenses of the crazy hobby. Perhaps I was mistaken?

Charged151 posted...

Nagovitsyna climbed despite an earlier leg fracture from a hike a year and a half ago. Her late husband, Sergey, who died of a stroke on Khan Tengri in 2021 as she stayed by his side, had warned her against Pobeda, citing its extreme physical demands. According to some sources, Luca Sinigaglia met the Russian couple at Khan Tengri in 2021, and they became friends.

I suppose that could be a reason why she wasn't afraid of the danger. Poor woman.

RIP

And yeah, no way in hell I'd try to mountain climb. I know I dont got what it takes.

Some mountain climbing is overrated - like the train of ppl who climb Everest - with help from experienced ppl all around them while they leave their trash on the mountain.
That's become more bucket list capable with training than actual impressive accomplishment imo.

As for myself, I'm a water/coastal person rather than mountains/landlocked fan.

Charged151 posted...

peaks in the former USSR

Ah, that makes sense

The situation isn't looking too good.

SecretBase posted...

Bro imagine your mom dying slowly in painful solitude and then also getting billed for thousands.

Happened a whole bunch of times during COVID.

Literally daily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7IZ_VbC9Dc