German climber Laura Dahlmeier killed in Gilgit-Baltistan landslide
Pakistan
She was attempting to summit Laila Peak
GILGIT (Web Desk) - German Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier has been reported dead in a landslide while attempting to summit Laila Peak, a 6,096-metre mountain in northern Pakistan.
The climber was caught in a rockfall earlier this week.
The government had launched a large-scale rescue operation in the Hushy valley of Ghanche district after two German mountaineers were caught in a landslide.
The incident occurred on Monday when Laura Dahlmeier, a renowned German climber and former Olympic biathlete, was struck by a landslide during the ascent.
Her climbing partner, Marina Eva, was successfully rescued on Tuesday, according to a statement from Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq.
Dahlmeier, 30, retired from professional sports in 2019 after making history as the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at the same Olympic Games.
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The latest incident follows a fatal accident earlier this month, in which a Czech climber died after falling into a ravine near Nanga Parbat base camp.
The 46-year-old was part of a multinational expedition attempting to summit the 8,126-metre peak, often referred to as Pakistan’s "Killer Mountain."
OLYMPIC TRIBUTE
"Laura made history at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics as the first female biathlete to win sprint and pursuit gold at the same Games edition. She will be remembered forever," the President of the International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry said.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation expressed deep sorrow at the news.
"She was more than an Olympic champion - she was someone with heart, attitude and vision," it said in a statement on X.
Dahlmeier, who was born in the Bavarian ski town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was also honoured by the premier of her home state, Markus Soeder, who said "she was ambitious and successful, yet always remained humble and close to her homeland".
The International Biathlon Union also expressed its condolences.
"Laura's energy and passion for life touched so many around the world. Her legacy, both within biathlon and beyond, will never be forgotten and will continue to inspire countless athletes and adventurers for generations to come," it said.
