KUALA LUMPUR – Alpine Club Malaysia has confirmed the death of one of its climbers on Denali mountain, Alaska, the highest peak in North America.
In the statement, the club said Zulkifli Yusuf, 37, passed away while taking shelter in a snow cave at an altitude of 19,700 feet.
Since Tuesday, two climbers, Zulkifli and Zainudin Lot, 47, have been stranded at this altitude on the mountain. Rescue attempts using helicopters were repeatedly thwarted by thick fog and strong winds.
At 6am local time on Friday, May 31, rescuers successfully evacuated Zainudin, who is now in stable condition at a hospital in Talkeetna, Alaska, despite suffering from frostbite on both hands.
However, Zulkifli was confirmed dead at 6am on Wednesday, May 29, while sheltering in a snow cave at a location known as the “Football Field.” His death is suspected to have resulted from high-altitude cerebral edema and hypothermia, pending confirmation from a post-mortem examination.
The deceased’s body remains at the site, and the retrieval process may be delayed until weather conditions improve.
Another climber, Muhammad Illaham Ishak, 47, the president of the club, was rescued several days earlier and is currently being treated for frostbite on his hands and feet at a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.
“The Malaysian consulate in Los Angeles has been informed and is assisting the survivors with the next steps. The families of the climbers have also been notified, and the Alpine Club Malaysia extends its condolences, requesting Malaysians to pray for the victims,” the club said.
According to earlier reports, Denali National Park authorities said that the survivor was evacuated from an altitude of 5,974m. According to the rescued climber, his companion had died in the snow cave where they had taken shelter about two days prior.
The rescue operation faced challenges due to thick clouds and strong winds. On Thursday night, a high-altitude national park helicopter pilot dropped an emergency disaster bag near the snow cave. Although the pilot saw one climber waving, the wind was too strong for a safe evacuation.
When the weather improved, the pilot and a ranger returned for a reconnaissance flight at 6am local time on Friday. They successfully lowered a rescue basket to extract the survivor to Kahiltna Base Camp.
The Zainudin was then transferred to Talkeetna Airport before being flown by air ambulance to a hospital.
The three experienced climbers, including Illaham and Zainudin, who summited Mount Everest in 2013, began their Denali expedition on May 12 as part of their quest to complete the Seven Summits challenge. – June 1, 2024