Climber buried on Broad Peak

Broad Peak: photo - wikipedia

Tomasz Kowalski (27) died with partner Maciej Berbeka (58) after a group of four Poles became the first ever climbers to make a winter ascent of the world's twelfth highest mountain.

Jacek Berbeka, brother of one of the deceased and himself a professional climber, led the expedition last month to the Karakoram range in search of the lost pair.

Speaking with Poland's RMF FM station, he said that Kowalski had been found on a very narrow ridge at 8000 metres, thanks to information provided by German mountaineers.

The 27-year-old's body was then carried 100 metres lower, where he was buried beneath some rocks.

“It was not possible to take Kowalski's body any lower – it was impossible, beyond human capabilities,” Berbeka said.

“Never in my life have I been so tired and so weak as now,” he added.

“We were operating in very difficult conditions, with strong winds and snow up to our knees.”

Berbeka, who has now returned to a camp at 4700 metres, says he will not make another attempt to locate the body of his brother.

A special committee created by the Polish Mountaineering Association is preparing a report on the March expedition.

It has been a sad year for Polish climbers. Besides the deaths of Tomasz Kowalski and Maciej Berbeka, noted mountaineer Artur Hajzer died this month while descending Gasherbrum I, which also lies in the Karakoram range. (nh)