German mountaineer Luis Stitzinger was found dead in Kanchenjunga mountain, the third highest in the world, the organizers of his expedition said Wednesday, days after he disappeared while descending from the summit.
A search team of five Nepalese guides on Tuesday found the body of Luis Stitzinger just below the summit of Kanchenjunga (8586 m), at about 8400 meters, Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP. "They are bringing down his body," Sherpa said.
The 54-year-old had reached the top of the Himalayan mountain on May 25, without supplemental oxygen, and then contact with him was lost, according to Seven Summit Treks. Search operations had been hampered by weather conditions. An experienced mountaineer and guide, Mr. Stitzinger had already reached several peaks over 8000,<> meters.
Record number of deaths this year
Nepal is home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest, and hosts hundreds of climbers each spring when temperatures are milder and winds generally weaker. The Nepalese authorities have issued more than a thousand permits for the ascent of these mountains this season, including 44 for Kanchenjunga.
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In Everest, the world's highest mountain, 12 people have died this year and five more are missing, putting 2023 on track to become a record year for deaths. Last month, mountaineer Noel Hanna, 56, from Northern Ireland, died in Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain in the world.