The body of US climber Sarah Mallory Geis, who was among a 10-member expedition team caught in an avalanche on Broad Peak on July 30, was recovered on Friday.
Alpine Club of Pakistan President (retired) Major General Irfan Arshad Khan said in a statement that Geis’ body was located on the slopes of Broad Peak by local rescue volunteers.
He said efforts were underway to move the body to the mountain’s base camp.
Alpine Club of Pakistan General Secretary Ayaz Shigri said local porters accompanying a trekking group had voluntarily joined the search operation and helped locate the missing climber.
“The body has been identified as Geis. It will be shifted to base camp and then airlifted to Skardu by Pakistan Army helicopters,” Shigri said.
Earlier, the bodies of five international climbers, including world-renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, who died in the Broad Peak avalanche, had been airlifted to Skardu by helicopter after a challenging rescue operation.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP), the bodies of Nirmal Purja, Wang Zhong, Nima Sherpa, Gyallo Sherpa, and Kali Pemba “Kilo” Sherpa were transported to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Skardu.
After the completion of legal procedures, identification, and documentation, the bodies will be transported to Islamabad under special arrangements before being repatriated to their respective countries. Upon arrival in Skardu aboard a Pakistan Army helicopter, the bodies were received by officials from the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Baltistan administration, military authorities, the Tourism Department, and the district administration.
The bodies were placed in coffins, each covered with the national flag of the respective country, and given a ceremonial farewell. Officials and participants paid tribute to the deceased climbers and offered condolences to their families.
The avalanche struck Broad Peak on July 30, hitting a 10-member international expedition led by 43-year-old British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja. Following the incident, his company confirmed that no member of the expedition had survived.
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