Norwegian Mountaineer Recounts Efforts to Save Fallen Climber on K2 Amid Controversy

Climber defends team's actions after accusations of negligence on treacherous mountain ascent

A Norwegian mountaineer, Kristin Harila, has broken her silence to address the controversy surrounding the tragic death of Mohammed Hassan, a porter, during an expedition to conquer K2. The incident has sparked debate and criticism after images emerged appearing to show climbers stepping over Hassan's prone body on the mountainside.

Hassan lost his life after a fall from a sheer edge at an elevation of approximately 8,200 meters during the ascent of K2 by Harila's team, including her Nepali sherpa Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa. Harila's group had been aiming to set a record by becoming the fastest climbers to scale all peaks above 8,000 meters, prompting claims that their focus on this endeavor overshadowed the urgency of saving Hassan's life.

In response, Harila revealed the untold efforts made by her team to rescue Hassan. She clarified that the images captured the aftermath of hours of intensive rescue attempts that were not documented on camera. The footage that circulated depicted climbers walking past Hassan, but Harila emphasized that this was shot after extensive endeavors had been dedicated to saving him.

Harila expressed deep condolences, stating, "First of all, it is a very, very tragic accident on the mountain. And we feel so sorry for Hassan and his family." She wasn't present during the footage in question but explained that they were close by when Hassan fell. She recounted how two expedition members managed to reach Hassan, with the second successfully bringing him back to the trail.

Following the fall, the team faced a challenging decision to split up after receiving radio reports of danger ahead involving a rope-fixing team. While some members pressed on to address the reported issue, others stayed behind with Hassan, offering him oxygen and warm water to alleviate his condition.

Harila detailed the precarious conditions of the trail, where its narrowness forced climbers to proceed in single file. This hindered their ability to gather around Hassan and rendered staying with him on the treacherous path a life-threatening choice in itself.

Despite their efforts, Harila and her team encountered criticism for their actions. Austrian climbers Wilhelm Steindl and Philip Flämig, present on K2 that day, questioned the treatment of Hassan in the footage. They argued that if he were a Westerner, he would have been rescued immediately, branding the incident unthinkable in the Alps.

In response, Harila defended her team's actions, highlighting the constraints of the narrow bottleneck on the trail. She maintained that their inability to bring Hassan's body down during the descent was due to the logistical challenges posed by the trail's dimensions.

As the debate rages on, this tragic incident has brought to light the complexities and dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, where split-second decisions can have life-altering consequences in the unforgiving environment of K2.