Ondrej Huserka, a 34-year-old climber, tragically fell into a crevasse on his descent from the perilous eastern face of a notoriously challenging peak in Nepal.
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Elite Climber in Nepal's Himalayas
Tragic Accident Claims Life of Elite Climber in Nepal's Himalayas
A celebrated Slovak mountaineer died during a descent after a historic summit on Lantang Lirung.
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A talented Slovak mountain climber lost his life while descending the 7,234m (23,730ft) Lantang Lirung in Nepal, moments after achieving the remarkable feat of summiting the mountain via its treacherous eastern face. Ondrej Huserka, 34, fell into a crevasse on Thursday during his descent alongside his climbing partner Marek Holecek, marking a devastating end to an impressive ascent.
According to Mr. Holecek, the duo made history as the first climbers to tackle Lantang Lirung’s perilous eastern route. Tragically, while rappelling down a steep rock wall, Huserka’s thread snapped, sending him plummeting into a crevasse. "He hit an angled surface after an 8m drop, then continued into the labyrinth of the glacier," Holecek recounted.
In a poignant Facebook post, Holecek described his frantic attempts to rescue his companion, revealing how he rushed to Huserka’s side and remained with him for four hours as help failed to arrive. "I rappelled down to him and stayed with him until his light faded," he shared. After managing to free Huserka from the icy confines, Holecek discovered that his partner had suffered paralysis.
The Slovak climbers' association, SHS James, commented on the harrowing situation, blaming adverse weather for the inability to conduct a rescue operation. “Given the weather conditions under Langtang Lirung, family and friends must confront the painful reality that Ondrej is no longer with us,” they stated in a heartfelt social media post.
Lantang Lirung is a notable peak located in the Nepalese Himalayas, surrounded by other significant mountains like Tsegro Ri and Kyanjin Ri. Huserka, who joined the Slovak national alpinism team in 2011, was a decorated climber, winning the SHS James best ascent of the year award multiple times. His extensive climbing career spanned various challenging terrains around the globe, including pioneering new routes in Kyrgyzstan and Argentina.
In memory of Huserka, SHS James praised him as a "top alpinist" who left an indelible mark on the mountaineering community. With tributes pouring in, the Slovak Spectator highlighted him as one of Slovakia's finest mountain climbers, emphasizing the impact of his tragic loss on the world of high-altitude climbing.
A talented Slovak mountain climber lost his life while descending the 7,234m (23,730ft) Lantang Lirung in Nepal, moments after achieving the remarkable feat of summiting the mountain via its treacherous eastern face. Ondrej Huserka, 34, fell into a crevasse on Thursday during his descent alongside his climbing partner Marek Holecek, marking a devastating end to an impressive ascent.
According to Mr. Holecek, the duo made history as the first climbers to tackle Lantang Lirung’s perilous eastern route. Tragically, while rappelling down a steep rock wall, Huserka’s thread snapped, sending him plummeting into a crevasse. "He hit an angled surface after an 8m drop, then continued into the labyrinth of the glacier," Holecek recounted.
In a poignant Facebook post, Holecek described his frantic attempts to rescue his companion, revealing how he rushed to Huserka’s side and remained with him for four hours as help failed to arrive. "I rappelled down to him and stayed with him until his light faded," he shared. After managing to free Huserka from the icy confines, Holecek discovered that his partner had suffered paralysis.
The Slovak climbers' association, SHS James, commented on the harrowing situation, blaming adverse weather for the inability to conduct a rescue operation. “Given the weather conditions under Langtang Lirung, family and friends must confront the painful reality that Ondrej is no longer with us,” they stated in a heartfelt social media post.
Lantang Lirung is a notable peak located in the Nepalese Himalayas, surrounded by other significant mountains like Tsegro Ri and Kyanjin Ri. Huserka, who joined the Slovak national alpinism team in 2011, was a decorated climber, winning the SHS James best ascent of the year award multiple times. His extensive climbing career spanned various challenging terrains around the globe, including pioneering new routes in Kyrgyzstan and Argentina.
In memory of Huserka, SHS James praised him as a "top alpinist" who left an indelible mark on the mountaineering community. With tributes pouring in, the Slovak Spectator highlighted him as one of Slovakia's finest mountain climbers, emphasizing the impact of his tragic loss on the world of high-altitude climbing.
