Islamabad: The unprecedented search for the three climbers who went missing on K2 has been called off. Pakistan’s celebrated mountaineer Mohammad Ali Sadpara and his two fellows, Juan Pablo Mohr and John Snorri, have been declared dead by the officials on Thursday.
The three went missing on the world’s second highest mountain, K2, and were last in contact with the base camp on February 5.
Sajid Sadpara, son of Ali, announced with a heavy heart that his father is no more. “My family has lost a compassionate member and the Pakistani nation has lost a brave, accomplished and passionate mountaineer” said Sajid, his voice breaking with emotion.
“The overwhelming love and support for the national hero Ali Sadpara was a source of immense strength for my family during this incredibly difficult time,” he said expressing gratitude for Pakistanis who kept praying for a miracle.
He also thanked Pakistan’s government and military officials particularly army aviation personnel for extending full support, including manpower and resources, for the unprecedented rescue mission that continued for more than 10 days despite bad weather and harsh conditions.
Father's footsteps
Recalling his father’s climbing accomplishments, Sajid said that he would follow his father’s footsteps “to fulfill his dream and mission to climb.” He also welcomed the announcement by Pakistani singer-cum-philanthropist Abrar ul Haq to build a school in their village, saying that it “was his father’s dream to build a world-class climbing school for the young climbers” of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sajid said he had last seen his father at K2’s treacherous ‘bottleneck’ at around 8,300m and believed the trio “met an accident on the way back” after the summit. Sajid was also part of the winter expedition but turned back on Friday 5 morning after facing trouble with his oxygen system. Sadpara, 45, and his fellow climbers John Snorri, 47, of Iceland, and JP Mohr, 33, of Chile, went missing nearly 10 days ago as they pushed for the winter summit of the 8,611-metres (28,250ft) high mountain.
Mohammad Ali Sadpara is hailed as a hero in his native town and described as a “daring climber and friendly person” by the local and global community of mountaineers.
Sadpara, who initiated his climbing career as a high-altitude porter on the Baltoro glacier on K2 in 2004, catapulted to the limelight after the first ever winter ascent of Nanga Parbat, also known as the Killer Mountain, in 2016 with Simone Moro and Alex Txikon. He is the only Pakistani to have climbed eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains.
His love for the mountains was enigmatic and unimaginable. And the mountains loved him as much, his son believes. “Those who are loved by the mountains stay on the mountains forever” Sajid remembered his father’s words.
This year, a team of 10 Nepali climbers made history by becoming the first ever to summit K2 in winter. Since then, five climbers have lost their lives during the K2 expedition including Bulgarian mountaineer Atanas Skatov, Spanish climber Sergi Mingote and now Ali Sadpara, John Snorri and JP Mohr have been lost forever to the K2.
