In a historic and unprecedented operation, a team of Pakistani climbers has successfully recovered the body of Muhammad Hassan Shigri, a porter who tragically died on the “Bottleneck” pass of K2 a year ago. The recovery, confirmed by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, marks the first successful mission of its kind on the treacherous mountain.
Muhammad Hassan Shigri lost his life during a night climb as he slipped and fell from the dangerous pass, leaving him dangling upside down on a rope. Despite efforts from fellow climbers to pull him up and revive him, he succumbed to his injuries as dozens of climbers, including record-breaker Kristin Harila, continued their ascent. Harila, along with her Nepali guide Tenjin “Lama” Sherpa, achieved the fastest summits of the world’s 14 highest mountains that night.
Led by Naila Kiani, a renowned Pakistani high-altitude mountaineer, the recovery team comprised five climbers. Supported by the Pakistan army and contacted by Shigri’s family, the team completed the high-risk operation last Wednesday.
“The rescue team made history and turned the impossible into possible,” stated Karrar Haidri, Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Shigri’s body was returned to his family for burial, fulfilling a significant wish of his loved ones.
Shigri’s cousin, Aslam Naz Shigri, expressed gratitude, saying, “We want to thank Naila Kiani and the porters who did this great job.”
An investigation by the Gilgit and Baltistan provincial government’s tourism department revealed Shigri’s inexperience and insufficient preparation for the climb. Despite dangerous conditions, some climbers had attempted to save him, but it was too late.
K2, at 8,611 meters, remains one of the most technically challenging peaks. This summer, four foreign climbers have perished on Pakistan’s mountains. The recovery of Shigri’s body underscores the perilous nature of high-altitude climbing and the extraordinary bravery of those who undertake such missions.
