Rescue Efforts Halted for Russian Climber Stranded 22,000 Feet Up Kyrgyzstan’s Highest Peak
A desperate attempt to save a Russian woman stranded high in the Tian Shan mountains has come to a heartbreaking conclusion.
Rescuers in Kyrgyzstan have officially called off all operations to reach Natalia Nagovitsina, a 47-year-old mountaineer who has been trapped for over ten days on Victory Peak (also known as Jengish Chokusu or Pik Pobedy), the tallest mountain in the country.
Nagovitsina sustained a serious leg injury during her climb and became immobilized at an altitude of nearly 23,000 feet. For days she battled extreme conditions, including temperatures plunging below –23°C (-9°F) and dangerously thin oxygen levels.
A Harrowing Ordeal on Victory Peak
At 24,406 feet, Victory Peak dominates the Kyrgyzstan–China border and is infamous for its unforgiving terrain and remote location. Its icy ridges and unpredictable weather make both climbing and rescue operations perilous.
Despite multiple missions, teams were unable to reach the Russian climber. Helicopters attempting to approach were repeatedly beaten back by strong winds and blizzards, while one Mi-8 helicopter crashed during the effort, leaving crew members injured. Ground expeditions fared no better, with rescuers themselves sustaining injuries that forced them to retreat.
A Fellow Climber’s Final Act of Bravery
Amid this tragedy, one story of extraordinary courage emerged. Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia, 49, managed to reach Nagovitsina earlier in the week. Realizing her desperate state, he left her with life-saving supplies including a sleeping bag, tent, food, water, and a portable stove.
Drone footage taken afterward showed Nagovitsina moving inside the sleeping bag, giving rescuers hope she might endure the freezing nights.
But Sinigaglia never made it back. After his act of compassion, he succumbed to hypothermia and exhaustion, his body later found in an ice cave.
“He would never have abandoned her,” his sister Patrizia said in a statement. “That was Luca – always ready to help, even when it cost him everything.”
The Rescue Mission Declared Impossible
With worsening weather, depleted resources, and the death of Sinigaglia, officials made the devastating decision to halt further attempts.
Rescue leader Dmitry Grekov, who oversees the mountain’s base camp, admitted that survival was now highly unlikely.
“She has been there since August 12,” he explained. “At that altitude, after so many days, it is not realistic to believe anyone could still survive.”
The Russian Mountaineering Federation echoed this grim assessment. Vice President Alexander Pyatnitsyn stated bluntly:
“It would require at least 30 rescuers to bring someone down from that ridge. At this point, saving her would be nothing short of a miracle.”
A Story of Courage, Tragedy, and Human Limits
Natalia Nagovitsina’s fate remains uncertain, but her ordeal has already become a chilling reminder of both the beauty and the brutality of the world’s tallest peaks.
Her struggle – and Sinigaglia’s sacrifice – underline the extreme risks climbers face in pursuit of the summits, where courage can meet tragedy in a matter of hours.