Tomaz Humar, Slovenian alpinist, was found dead this morning at 5600 meters–700 meters lower than expected–on the south face of Langtang Lirung (7227m), Langtang Himal, Nepal. [Photo] humar.com
Tomaz Humar, the extraordinary solo alpinist injured and missing on Nepal’s Langtang Lirung since Monday, has been found dead. (Read the November 12 and November 13, 2009 NewsWires for more information).
Air Zermatt pilot Robert Andenmatten and climber and rescuer Simon Anthamatten, along with a Nepalese captain, spotted Humar’s body from the air this morning after three hours of search. Anthamatten was dropped at the site via a 25-meter static line; Humar’s body was fixed to the line and flown to base camp; the pilot then returned to pick up Anthamatten.
The body was located at 5600 meters on the south wall of Langtang Lirung, about 700 meters lower than expected. It is unclear whether Humar took a second fall on the face.
“We may never know exactly what happened,” Slovenian rescue coordinator Viki Groselj told 24ur.com. “The first reviews of the body showed that he had a broken leg. We assume that he died sometime on Monday night, no later than Tuesday.”
Efforts are under way to bring Humar’s body to Kathmandu.