Climber Dies in Fall During Everest Descent
One of three Polish climbers who scaled Mt. Everest was killed during the descent, the head of the team said Friday.
Tadeusz Kudelski, who was 44, fell Tuesday while descending after reaching the peak of the world’s highest mountain earlier in the day, team leader Ryszard Pawlowski told independent Radio Zet by satellite telephone.
Pawlowski, 49, had reported live by satellite telephone when the team, which also included Jacek Maselko, 29, reached the peak Tuesday.
On Friday, he said Kudelski died when he fell from a difficult rock face at 28,380 feet, less than 1,000 feet below the peak.
Pawlowski also said a Belgian climber was found dead of frostbite Wednesday at a camp at the foot of the peak, and a Portuguese climber suffered severe frostbite to his hands and legs.
Italian media reported the Belgian climber was Pascal Debrouwer and the Portuguese climber was Joao Garcia.
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