Top Slovak mountaineer dies in Nepal after historic ascent

An aircraft flies near by the Langtang mountain range, as seen from Chandragiri hilltop on the outskirts of Kathmandu on February 3, 2018. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

PRAGUE — A top Slovak mountaineer died on a descent of the 7,234-meter Langtang Lirung peak in Nepal after an historic ascent up its east face, Slovakia’s climbers association said on Sunday.

Ondrej Huserka, a member of the Slovak national mountaineering team who had climbed in the Alps, Patagonia, Pamir Mountains and Himalayas, fell into a crevasse on Thursday.

His Czech climbing partner Marek Holecek said that the pair had just completed the first-ever ascent of the Langtang Lirung peak via the east face.

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The Slovak climbers association SHS James called for rescue action on Facebook but then said on Sunday that the helicopter could not take off because of bad weather.

Holecek confirmed the death in an emotional post on Facebook.

He said Huserka had “hit an angled surface after an eight-metre drop, then continued down a labyrinth into the depths of the glacier”.

Holecek added that he had spent hours trying to rescue Huserka but failed as the Slovak was trapped head down and apparently paralyzed.

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“I rappelled down to him and stayed with him for four hours until his light faded. There’s nothing more to add,” Holecek said.

SHS James said that the weather in Nepal would prevent rescue action in the days to come.

“Following a phone call with Marek Holecek and his status published yesterday, and given the weather conditions under Langtang Lirung, the family and friends will have to cope with the fact that Ondrej is not with us any more,” it added.

The Slovak daily SME described the 34-year-old Huserka as “one of the best Slovak mountaineers” who focused on rock and ice climbing.