Fears mount for Irish K2 conqueror

Fears are mounting today for the safety of a Co Limerick climber after he went missing while descending the second highest mountain…

Fears are mounting today for the safety of a Co Limerick climber after he went missing while descending the second highest mountain in the world.

Engineer Gerard McDonnell (37) has become trapped by blizzards on the Chinese/Pakistani border with a group of Dutch explorers.

Mr McDonnell became the first Irish person to reach the summit of K2 yesterday.

His friend Pat Falvey said a major rescue operation by fellow climbers is underway to find the stranded climbers.

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“It looks at the moment that there is a big rescue on the mountain, above the 8,000 metre mark and it looks like Ger and a few other friends are actually trapped higher on the mountain.”

“So for the next few hours, for the family, it is a very tense time. We are praying, and we have candles lighting for his safe return,” he said.

K2 is regarded as the most savage mountain in the world and considered tougher than Mount Everest because of its steep routes and unpredictable weather.

Only 189 climbers have reached the summit, compared with around 1,400 for Everest.

With a summit of 28,250ft, routes that are steeper and more difficult than those to the top of Everest, and surrounding weather that is significantly colder and less predictable, reaching the peak is the equivalent of winning the Olympic gold in mountaineering.

K2, on the Chinese/Pakistani border, was first scaled in 1954 by two Italians — Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni.

PA