Rescue Efforts for Russian Climber Natalia Nagovitsina on Pobeda Peak Ended in Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, the rescue operation for Russian mountaineer Natalia Nagovitsina, who was stranded on Pobeda Peak, has been halted. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the 47-year-old climber has died,  Orda.kz reports.

The head of the base camp, Dmitry Grekov, announced the end of the mission. He noted that since 1955, no one has ever been successfully evacuated from that mountain. Kyrgyz Emergency Minister Boobek Azhikeev also confirmed experts’ conclusions about the climber’s death.

Nagovitsina summited Pobeda Peak (7,439 m) on August 12, but broke her leg during the descent. Her partner gave her first aid before going for help. Later, two foreign climbers attempted to rescue her but could only provide a sleeping bag; she had almost no food or water.

Several evacuation attempts were made. On August 16, a helicopter carrying rescuers made a hard landing, injuring the crew. A drone later spotted Nagovitsina alive in a damaged tent on August 19, but worsening weather prevented further attempts.

In 2021, her husband Sergey died from a stroke on Khan-Tengri Peak at 6,900 m. Natalia refused to leave him, spending the night by his side until an evacuation team arrived. A year later, she returned to install a memorial plaque, an episode later featured in the documentary Stay with Khan-Tengri.

Original Author: Natalia Ovchinnikova