tragic
\n KHAPLU
\nTwo elite Japanese mountain climbers fell from 7,500 metres while trying to scale the world\u2019s second highest mountain, K2, officials said, adding that a helicopter spotted the \u201cmotionless pair\u201d but had to return without rescuing them.
\nVeteran mountaineers Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima were attempting an ascent of the jagged western face of the world\u2019s second highest mountain, using an expert climbing style prioritising speed and relying on minimal fixed ropes.
\nBut on Saturday \u201cthey fell from a height of 7,500 metres (24,600 feet)\u201d, Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) Secretary Karrar Haidri said in a statement.
\n\u201cA helicopter rescue was attempted, however the heli could not land,\u201d said Wali Ullah Falahi, the deputy commissioner for Shigar district, which encompasses the 8,611-metre K2.
\n\u201cUpon close inspection, the bodies of the two climbers were spotted, and it was determined that there was no movement. The heli then turned back,\u201d he told AFP.
\nNo organisation, as yet, has confirmed the pair are dead.
\nIshii Sports \u2014 a Japanese outdoor goods brand sponsoring the pair \u2014 said the high altitude and steep slope forced the helicopter to abort its landing.
\n\u201cThe pilot said the two men can be seen, but their status was unclear,\u201d the firm said in a statement. \u201cWe are currently reviewing how we will rescue them.\u201d
\nRescue attempts are extremely risky on K2, even on the southeastern ridge, which is the most common route climbers take to the top.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
tragic KHAPLU Two elite Japanese mountain climbers fell from 7,500 metres while trying to scale the world\u2019s second highest mountain, K2, officials said, adding that a helicopter spotted the \u201cmotionless pair\u201d but had to return without rescuing them. Veteran mountaineers Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima were attempting an ascent of the jagged western face of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-421280","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n