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Tomasz Mackiewicz

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Tomasz Mackiewicz
Born(1975-01-13)January 13, 1975
Działoszyn, Poland
Disappearedsometime between 25–27 January 2018 (aged 43)
Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
StatusMissing for 6 years, 9 months and 21 days
NationalityPolish
Other namesCzapkins
OccupationMountaineer

Tomasz Mackiewicz alias Czapkins (January 13, 1975 – disappeared sometime 25–27 January 2018[1]) was a Polish mountain climber.[2] He went missing on January 27, 2018, near the summit of the 8,126 m (26,660 ft) high Nanga Parbat, known as the "Killer Mountain", in Pakistan.[3]

Early life and expeditions

Born in Działoszyn, Poland, Mackiewicz married twice and had two children from his first marriage and two from the second marriage.[4]

In 2008, Tomasz was awarded Colossi the feat of the year award along with Mark Klonowski for an extensive traverse of Mount Logan.[5][4] In 2009 he summitted Khan Tengri 7,010 m (23,000 ft) as a solo climber. He tried several times to summit Nanga Parbat in winter. While climbing with Klonowski in 2015, he reached a height of 7,400 m (24,300 ft) and in 2016, along with the French climber Élisabeth Revol, he reached an altitude of 7,200 m (23,600 ft) on Nanga Parbat.[4]

Disappearance

On January 25, 2018, while attempting his seventh winter ascent[6] of Nanga Parbat, known as the "Killer Mountain", in Pakistan,[7] at 8,126 m (26,660 ft), Mackiewicz along with French climber Elisabeth Revol had reached the summit from the Diamer side. At the summit Revol noticed Mackiewicz's bad condition and started taking him down. According to Revol, he could not walk, see or even communicate and was bleeding profusely from mouth and nose. She secured him from the wind in a crevasse, called for help and started her trip down the mountain. Mackiewicz had developed severe frostbite and snow blindness. It is also believed that he was in the later stages of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Revol had mild frostbite on five toes.[6]

Another Polish team that was attempting a nearby summit of K2 was called for rescue. On January 27, 2018 the rescue team, including Denis Urubko and Adam Bielecki, were dropped off by a helicopter at 4,900 m (16,100 ft) on the mountain. The team rescued Revol at 6,026 m (19,770 ft) and brought her to safety. Mackiewicz, who was believed to be at his tent at around 7,400 m (24,300 ft), could not be rescued due to bad weather and a snowstorm.[8][4][6]

Ludovic Giambiasi, Revol's partner, wrote on a Facebook post:

The rescue for Tomasz is unfortunately not possible – because of the weather and altitude it would put the life of rescuers in extreme danger, It’s a terrible and painful decision. ... All our thoughts go out to Tomek's family and friends. We are crying.[2]

Revol was later carried to Islamabad for treatment.

Tomasz most likely died within 24 hours, but the cause is unknown and he has not been found since his disappearance. [9][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Friends remember Polish climber left to die on Pakistan's 'killer mountain'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-02-03.
  2. ^ a b c "Rescuers call off efforts to save Polish climber missing on 'killer mountain' Nanga Parbat". Dawn.com. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  3. ^ "THE KILLER MOUNTAIN MAY KILL AGAIN". dreamwanderlust.com. 31 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "NAGRODY ZA DOKONANIA ROKU". Kolosy.org. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Meeting with Tomak". Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Polish rescue team finds French climber on Pakistan's "Killer Mountain"". Reuters. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Stranded French climber flown from Pakistan's 'Killer Mountain'". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Killer Mountain' Strands Climber as Another Is Rescued". National Geographic. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Climbers rescue French woman stranded on Pakistan's 'Killer Mountain". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2018.