Poor weather has prevented a last gasp rescue mission to find a stranded Russian climber – ending any final hopes to save her.
Natalia Nagovitsina, 47, is stuck at nearly 23,000ft on the Pobeda peak in Kyrgyzstan after fracturing her leg on her descent on August 12.
A search was suspended due to severe weather conditions for the 42-year-old, who is exposed to extreme temperatures as low as -23°C.
‘The last attempt to save Russian mountaineer Natalia Nagovitsina, who broke her leg at over 7,000 metres on Mount Pobeda, has failed,’ reported Russian media channel SOTA.
‘The Ministry of Emergency Situations had planned to use a drone to check for signs of life, followed by deployment of a light Airbus Helicopters H125.
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‘However, the expected weather ‘window’ never opened.’
They added: Italian pilots with experience in the highlands who arrived to help are returning home.
Nagovitsyna is stuck in the deathzone, and her chances of being saved were assessed as minimal.
The search has been suspended until next year, meaning her body can only be collected in the spring.
Pobeda or Victory Peak is the highest point in the Tian Shan range, which stretches across the border with China.
The conditions have been so severe that one mountain climber has died trying to rescue Nagovitsina.
Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia lost his life after he set out with a German climber to try and save the stranded climber.
He died of hypothermia after the pair were caught in a blizzard.
Sinigaglia’s sister Patrizia said he ‘carried out an act of great courage’.
A defence ministry Mi-8 helicopter also crashed while trying to locate Natalia.
Another helicopter dispatched on the search was forced due to poor visibilty.
Search leader Dmitry Grekov said he was doubted Natalia was still alive.
He said: ‘I think not, because she has been there since August 12 – count how much time has passed….
‘It is unrealistic. It is unrealistic to survive at such an altitude.’
Nagovitsina has previously experienced challenges while on expeditions.
Four years ago, she survived by miracle after she refused orders to leave her husband Sergey, who had suffered a stroke at 22,638ft on Khan Tengri.
Sergey’s body was lost and never recovered,
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