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Three climbers die and one rescued after fall on Alaska’s Mount McKinley
Four were part of seven-person group that had traveled to US to ascend North America’s tallest mountain
TL;DR
- Three climbers died and one was rescued after a fall on Mount McKinley.
- The four were part of a seven-person group from Latvia.
- The accident occurred at Denali Pass on Wednesday.
- Weather conditions initially prevented a helicopter response.
- One climber was rescued via long-line extraction and airlifted to a hospital.
- Recovery operations are in progress for the three deceased climbers.
- The climbers who died were identified as Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte, and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks.
- Mārtiņš Bilzēns was injured and evacuated in critical condition.
- Mount McKinley is North America's tallest mountain, rising to 20,310ft.
- Accidents are common on the peak, with a climbing season from late April to mid-July.