Rescue fails: Russian alpineist caught in the death zone

Rescue fails: Russian alpineist caught in the death zone

The dramatic rescue operation for the 48-year-old Russian alpineist Natalia Nagowizina at Pik Pobeda was canceled after twelve days on August 24, 2025. Since August 12, Nagowizina has been stuck with a serious leg injury at a height of over 7000 meters. The mighty Dschengisch Tschokusu, as the summit is officially called, rises majestically to 7439 meters and is considered to be extremely challenging.

Despite the tireless efforts, the Kyrgyz authorities had to stop the salvage mission due to extreme weather conditions. Storms, ice breakdowns and temperatures up to minus 30 degrees contributed to the impossibility of the rescue campaigns. Dmitri Grekow, the head of the base camp, admitted that it was impossible to get to Nagowizina. This is particularly difficult because historical data show that no one has been saved from this amount by PIK Pobeda.

Challenges during the rescue mission

The rescue mission was shaped by numerous setbacks. A successful attempt came to help from the experienced alpinist Luca Sinigaglia, who brought relief goods to Nagowizina on August 15th. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, he had to be abandoned due to hypothermia and lack of oxygen. His body was later recovered by Italian forces with a helicopter.

Several teams were committed to reaching Nagowizina. A helicopter of the Kyrgyz Department of Defense had to make an emergency land on August 16 due to strong weather conditions, while another rescue team had to reverse because of poor visibility. The team under the experienced mountaineer Vitali Akimow came up to around 1100 meters to Nagowizina's location, but this team also had to cancel the mission due to Akimow's back pain. Experts rate the chances of survival as extremely low; It is unclear whether she is still alive.

Survival strategies in extreme height

The situation of Nagowizina serves as a sobering memory of the dangers that threaten to mountain climbing at such altitudes. According to the guidelines of renowned mountaineers, alpinists must know in advance about their skills and the weather conditions. The right equipment, which includes everything from food to first aid sets, is of crucial importance for survival. A backpack should be waterproof and breathable while the clothing should be adapted to the conditions.

Important equipment includes a satellite telephone for radio-free areas, a GPS device, and sufficient supplies of water and food that must also be available in extreme situations. Survival skills that were originally developed for the military are indispensable in emergencies. This knowledge can decide on life and death if unforeseen events such as injuries or sudden swings occur.

The tragedy around Natalia Nagowizina is not only a story about the fight against the elements, but also a warning to the importance of preparation and resilience in mountaineering. Unfortunately, the Kyrgyz authorities did not express the hope of resuming the rescue mission for this year.

Vienna.at reports that the rescue operation was finally broken off. Loud 20 minutes The air inserts and ground teams had failed in view of the extreme conditions. Also give Bergsteiger.de Important information about the necessary survival strategies in danger sites.