Italian alpinist Luca Sinigaglia was found dead after perishing during his attempt to rescue Natalia Nagovitsina, a Russian mountaineer who had become trapped and injured on Pik Pobeda mountain in Kyrgyzstan. During the difficult rescue mission on Pik Pobeda, located on the border with China, the 49-year-old from Milan met a tragic end, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Kyrgyzstan: The rescue operation
It all began on August 12 when 47-year-old Natalia Nagovitsina injured her leg during her descent from the mountain peak, making it impossible for her to continue. The injured mountaineer received first aid from fellow climbers who were with her – Roman Mokrinsky from Russia, German Gunter Sigmund, and Sinigaglia – who left a tent and sleeping bag. The following day, August 13, Sigmund and Sinigaglia returned with food, water, and fuel. Two days later, during a new resupply attempt, the Italian climber suffered cerebral edema and died at 6,800 meters. His body remains in a cave in the area.
It should be noted that Gunter Sigmund was transported to a hospital, while the rescue operation for Nagovitsina continues with the participation of three Italian rescuers – Michele Cucchi and pilot Manuel Munari, who has experience in operations in Nepal, who will attempt a rescue using a private helicopter, weather conditions permitting.
The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Defense announced that on August 19, a drone spotted Nagovitsina alive. However, rescue operations have been repeatedly hampered by poor weather conditions. On August 16, a military Mi-8 helicopter carrying six rescuers was forced to make an emergency landing at an altitude above 4,000 meters, resulting in injuries to crew members and rescuers. The injured were transported to Karakol city hospital without their lives being in danger.
