Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

INTERVIEW-K2 survivor recounts fatal mistakes, numbed panic

Tue Aug 5, 2008 12:12am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

"We wasted precious time by cutting rope from the bottom and bringing it up," van Rooijen recalled bitterly, as his co-climber Cas van de Geval lay in a nearby bed, his frostbitten feet swathed in bandages.

ROCK AND ICE

Van Rooijen, who had scaled Mount Everest without oxygen and attempted K2 twice before, said he slept there "without sleeping bag, food and water" knowing they had to get down before the cold and lack of oxygen took its toll.

A towering pyramid of rock and ice, the steepness of K2's slopes are daunting for the most experienced climbers.

More than 70 people have died climbing the peak, a good many of them at the Bottleneck, where a wrong step can send a man hurtling off the South Face, where his body is unlikely to be ever recovered.

"If you can't go down you have to climb up," van Rooijen said. "So in such a difficult situation, you are taking more risks; you're climbing more technical slopes and finally you make a little mistake and you're gone."

As team leader, he appeared haunted by the panic that gripped some of his fellow climbers.

"People were running down but didn't know where to go, so a lot of people were lost on the mountain on the wrong side, wrong route and then you have a big problem."   Continued...

Construction workers work at a site as the sun sets in Chandigarh in this December 2006 file photo. REUTERS/Ajay Verma
Economy seen growing at 7.2 pct in FY10 - govt

The forecast reinforces the possibility that the government may start to unwind its fiscal stimulus in the budget.  Full Article 

A Greek flag at the Bank of Greece is seen near a statue of ancient philosopher Socrates in Athens February 5, 2010.  REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis/Files
Greek crisis sets euro zone enlargement back

The Greek debt crisis has dealt a setback to prospects of enlarging the euro zone by highlighting the difficulties of managing the single currency area.  Full Article 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives
Greece's Finance Minister Papaconstantinou addresses reporters during a news conference in Athens, January 20, 2010.
Eurozone agreed in principle to aid Greece

Euro zone countries have decided in principle to help debt-stricken Greece, a senior German ruling coalition source said.  Full Article 

FROM THE MARKETS

After the Bell
After the Bell

Reuters Money's Kshitij Anand updates you on the movers and shakers of the Indian stock market.  Blog 

SHOWCASE

"Claw Back" Pay
"Claw Back" Pay

Banks and regulators hope that threats to "claw back" pay if trades later blow up will rein in risk taking on Wall Street.  Full Article 

 
James Saft
Blaming Asperger's

COLUMN - Did Asperger's help cause the financial crisis?  Full Article 

 
Going Global
Going Global

With Volvo, Chinese eye M&A abroad to win at home.  Full Article 

 
Delivery Woes
Delivery Woes

Boeing 787 delivery schedule could slip - experts.  Full Article 

 
Central Banks Cautious
Central Banks Cautious

Reuters tracks the policies of the world's top central banks as the debate over global economic recovery rages on.   Full Coverage